‘Alipur Farash housing project to be completed soon’

Official says total of 2,400 flats being constructed for low-income groups

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Housing and Works are making all-out efforts to complete the low-cost project in Alipur Farash, a project of the Naya Pakistan Housing Development Authority (NAPHDA).

The excavation work for 26 blocks has been carried out and the raft was prepared in two blocks, while a steel cage for columns was developed for 16 blocks to be established under the project, an official in the Ministry of Housing and Works told APP.

He said that under the project, a total of 2,400 flats were being constructed, out of which 400 flats were reserved for rehabilitating dwellers of Katchi Abadis (slum areas) of the federal capital.

The official said that currently, around 1,000 workers were deployed on the project site, and the number would be increased from 3,000 to 5,000 in the coming days, which would not only help in the completion of the project in time but will also enhance employment opportunities.

He said that a site laboratory was set up at the project site to test the quality of construction material, which would help test the material used in construction as well as save time.

The ministry was taking various steps to facilitate low-income people of the country by restarting stalled schemes, constructing new apartments worth Rs109 billion, he added.

The official said the ministry revived some stalled projects including Kurri Road Islamabad, Wafaqi Colony Lahore, G-10/2 Islamabad, I-16/3 Islamabad and I-12/1 Islamabad.

Most of these long-stalled projects have been put on the track and completed by the Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA). However, work on I/16-3 and I/12-1 projects was in progress, he added.

The official said that a membership drive was executed and over 7,700 applications were received and automated balloting was also held successfully.

The PC-I has been approved by the Development Working Party (DWP) and endorsed by the PHA-F’s Board of Directors.

The bidding and tendering process have been completed, he said, adding that the letter of commencement to the contractors has been issued and work has also been started.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2022.