Environment-friendly homes promised

CM vows to expand low-cost housing programme

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that durable and environment-friendly construction of houses will be promoted under the 'Apni Chhat... Apna Ghar' programme.

''We will fulfil the dream of low-income people across the province of having their own houses. The low-cost housing programme has been launched in Punjab and the provincial government will extend its scope every year. The Apni Chhat... Apna Ghar programme will be one of the biggest and economical residential projects in the history of Pakistan. The basic aim of the programme is to provide residences to the financially weak segments of society," she said during a meeting with the Founder of the Akhuwat interest-free microfinance programme, Dr Amjad Saqib.

The CM said, "The Punjab government will provide subsidies to reduce the financial burden on the people and will fix soft-term monthly instalments. Durable and environment-friendly construction of houses will be promoted under the programme."

She said hundreds of thousands of people would be provided employment and as many families could enjoy a better lifestyle after the launching of the housing project.'

CM Maryam Nawaz said the housing programme would be one of the biggest projects in the history of the country based on the provision of interest-free loans. The provision of houses to the homeless people is among the foremost priorities of the Punjab government.

Projects are being launched under a three-tier plan of the Apni Chhat... Apna Ghar programme. The owners of residential plots of 10 marla in rural and five marla in the urban areas can obtain loans worth Rs1.5 million. Approximately Rs14,000 in monthly instalments will have to be paid on an interest-free basis.

"We will construct four-storeyed flats in the big cities on state land. The flats will be provided to the people on easy instalments through balloting,'' she said.