Govt working to address housing issues: official
Housing and works secretary meets ABAD officials to discuss concerns.
The ABAD chief said that out of the total population of Karachi more than 50% reside in slums and it was necessary to convert them to high-rise buildings to discourage any further development of illegal settlements in the city. DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD.
KARACHI:
Housing and Works Federal Secretary Mohammad Younus Dhaga has said that the government is serious in encouraging construction activities in a bid to address housing problems in the country.
Dhaga was addressing representatives of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) at the ABAD House.
“The government is ready to take all possible steps that can revive construction activities,” said Dhaga. “These steps will include construction of low-cost houses and providing easy loans to middle income groups.”
Dhaga said that it will be his priority to bridge the gap among builders, developers and relevant government departments to effectively address the housing shortage in the country.
He assured his support to ABAD in order to resolve the issues that are confronted by builders and developers including providing housing finance to middle and lower middle income population and lifting up the moratorium on the new gas connections among others.
ABAD Chairman Mohsin Sheikhani said that most governments in the past did not pay due attention to the construction industry despite the sector having a crucial role in the revival of the economy.
Sheikhani added that the National Housing Policy 2001, on which ABAD and concerned government departments had worked, was never implemented in letter and spirit.
Availability of finances has always been a problem to the construction sector of the country, Sheikhani added, and house building finance corporation (HBFC) is unable to meet the demand of loans requests.
The ABAD chief said that out of the total population of Karachi more than 50% reside in slums and it was necessary to convert them to high-rise buildings to discourage any further development of illegal settlements in the city.
The rehabilitation and redevelopment of these slums will be instrumental in providing modern day facilities to the occupants including better health, education and recreational facilities.
He requested National Housing Authority director general to exercise his powers and announce the formation of a Ministry of Rehabilitation and Redevelopment slums.
ABAD Senior Vice Chairman Salim Patel said that construction of 500,000 houses, proposed by the government, will provide jobs to millions of skilled and unskilled labour.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2014.
Housing and Works Federal Secretary Mohammad Younus Dhaga has said that the government is serious in encouraging construction activities in a bid to address housing problems in the country.
Dhaga was addressing representatives of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) at the ABAD House.
“The government is ready to take all possible steps that can revive construction activities,” said Dhaga. “These steps will include construction of low-cost houses and providing easy loans to middle income groups.”
Dhaga said that it will be his priority to bridge the gap among builders, developers and relevant government departments to effectively address the housing shortage in the country.
He assured his support to ABAD in order to resolve the issues that are confronted by builders and developers including providing housing finance to middle and lower middle income population and lifting up the moratorium on the new gas connections among others.
ABAD Chairman Mohsin Sheikhani said that most governments in the past did not pay due attention to the construction industry despite the sector having a crucial role in the revival of the economy.
Sheikhani added that the National Housing Policy 2001, on which ABAD and concerned government departments had worked, was never implemented in letter and spirit.
Availability of finances has always been a problem to the construction sector of the country, Sheikhani added, and house building finance corporation (HBFC) is unable to meet the demand of loans requests.
The ABAD chief said that out of the total population of Karachi more than 50% reside in slums and it was necessary to convert them to high-rise buildings to discourage any further development of illegal settlements in the city.
The rehabilitation and redevelopment of these slums will be instrumental in providing modern day facilities to the occupants including better health, education and recreational facilities.
He requested National Housing Authority director general to exercise his powers and announce the formation of a Ministry of Rehabilitation and Redevelopment slums.
ABAD Senior Vice Chairman Salim Patel said that construction of 500,000 houses, proposed by the government, will provide jobs to millions of skilled and unskilled labour.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2014.