PHA launched several housing schemes

Expression of Interests (EOIs) have been sought to launch housing schemes in small cities of the country aimed at providing inexpensive residential facilities to the common man.

An official of Ministry of Housing told APP that the Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) invited EOIs to launch first phase of the proposed 5- Marla housing schemes from individuals and firms having land and capacity to develop the projects in different cities of the country.

He said an advertisement was being given seeking EOIs to launch the scheme in collaboration with private sector.

The government has initiated work on various long and short term housing projects keeping in view the growing demand of the houses.

Soon after taking over the charge the government announced to construct one million houses.

Project construction of housing units is in full swing in Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta.

About 3000 kanals of land in Bara Kahu has been purchased, where flats and plots would be built and allotted to government employees, general public and journalists.

The allotment would be on `no profit and no loss basis'. About two percent quota for journalists and non-journalists each has been allocated in the federal schemes.

Investors are showing keen interest in Pakistan's housing sector.

Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) has registered thousand of employees under the government's scheme to provide houses to government servants.

The scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on August 28. Membership drive was initiated with the prime objective to provide housing units to government employees under government's ambitious plan.

The scheme will help overcome housing backlog hitting hard to a significant number of employees for the last several years. Under the scheme, every registered employee would get an opportunity to have a house in the Federal Capital, which has so far remained an elusive dream for many.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011