Poor, common man: 'Aashiyana Housing Scheme offering modern facilities'

Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Aashiyana Housing Scheme offers modern facilities for the poor and common man and is an important step towards transforming Pakistan into an Islamic welfare state in accordance with the visions of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.
He said that if given opportunity by Allah Almighty, the scheme will be initiated for workers, orphans, widows and destitute persons under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif throughout the country. He said that a system based on justice will be introduced in the country by eliminating inequality. He assured that loans worth billion of rupees, which were written-off on political basis, will be recovered and utilised for the welfare and betterment of masses. He said that maximum funds would be provided for the uplift and betterment of deprived and resource-less segments of the society.
The CM was addressing the inaugural ceremony of balloting for Aashiyana Quaid Extension Project at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here Wednesday. Addressing the function, he said that Aashiyana Housing Project has been started first time in the 64-year history of the country for providing shelter to the poor people and even better facilities than provided in the residential societies of the elite. He informed that work on extension project of 'Aashiyana-e-Quaid' Scheme at Saroba Atari has been started wherein 22,000 houses will be constructed. He said that 935 five-marla plots will also be provided through transparent balloting. He said that work on Aashiyana-e-Iqbal Scheme will also be started at Burki Road soon wherein 8,000 houses will be constructed.
Similarly, he said, work on Aashiyana Housing Schemes in Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Jhelum have also been initiated, adding that the scope of this scheme will be extended to other cities of the province this year. He furthered that 10 percent quota has been reserved for martyrs, orphans and widows in the scheme and the down-payment of their houses is being made by Punjab government. He said that the scheme is meant for those who are shelter-less, besides the allotment of houses is being made in a highly transparent manner.
The CM regretted that loot and corruption is rampant in the country and those who plundered billions of rupees in the past are enjoying power. Similarly, he said, those who got loans worth billion of rupees written off on political basis still own factories and palaces and are known as the 'elite'.