DHA scheme set to launch in Feb

PESHAWAR:

After much success in several major cities, the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has finalised a housing scheme which will be set up in the outskirts of the provincial capital.

The official launch is scheduled for February, while marketing is expected to gain momentum from March.

DHA Peshawar will not only add to the infrastructure of the provincial capital, but also end a vicious turf war over the earmarked property between the Orakzai tribe and the dwellers of Regi. The feud has so far claimed 20 lives from both sides. The deceased individuals include a former inspector general of police, youngsters and respected elders.

Written in the law

The project is being executed according to the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Peshawar Act which was adopted by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in 2009. Although the scheme will be carried out by the armed forces under the supervision of the Peshawar corps commander, the civilian government seems to have a ‘big say’ in it, sources claim.

The idea of a Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad-like DHA housing scheme was proposed by the K-P government in 2005 and approved by former president General (retd) Pervez Musharaf in 2007. The scheme was given complete legal coverage by the provincial assembly act and will be the first of its kind anywhere in the province.

The divisions

Insiders told The Express Tribune work on Phase-I of the massive housing scheme will start on 6,000 kanals and later extend to 10,000 kanals. The bulk of residential plots will cover one kanal and only a very limited number will span two kanals. For lower and middle class buyers, DHA management has earmarked 10-marla and five-marla plots.

Insiders added 50% of the land is dedicated for civic services, including 30% for roads and 20% for parks, schools, hospitals, mosques and commercial markets, while 25% of residential plots will go to the armed forces and the rest can be bought by civilians.

The land owners, mostly from the Orakzai tribe and Regi village, are likely to get the lion’s share of residential plots for personal use or sale. Also, two-thirds of land price will go to the Orakzai tribesmen while the remainder will be given to the dwellers of Regi, according to the settlement reached through mediation by the DHA management.

DHA Peshawar will be connected to the rest of the city through a road called the Express Way which also connects to the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway. From the Express Way, interchanges will lead to the University of Peshawar campus, Warsak Road and Charsadda Road. A state-of-the-art security system as well as waste recycling and disposal system will also be installed in the new housing scheme.

DHA Peshawar is located on Nasar Bagh Road. The long-standing turf war over the property has left the land barren. The site is adjacent to the K-P government’s under-construction Regi Lalma Housing Scheme. Beside others, the Professor’s Colony, Durrani Media Colony and Askari Scheme are also close to this project. A portion of the scheme will be on the bank of River Kabul.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2015.