Aashiyana Housing Scheme: 'scope of project to be extended to 36 districts of Punjab'

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that though modern residential colonies have been set up for the elites and senior officers during the 63 years history of Pakistan but it is the first time that Punjab government has launched Aashiyana Housing Scheme for the poor such as labourers, cart-pushers, cultivators, widows, orphans and the common man and thereby realised their dream of having their own house.
He said that work is in progress expeditiously on Aashiyana Housing Schemes in Lahore, Jhelum, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Sargodha while such housing schemes will also be launched in 16 more districts this year for which land has been identified. He said that the scope of this project would be extended to 36 districts of the province under a phased programme.
He was addressing a meeting on the occasion of his visit to the first under-construction Aashiyana Housing Project at Saroba Atari in the provincial metropolis. Chairman Punjab Land Development Company and Member Provincial Assembly Sheikh Allauddin, elected representatives, Chairman Planning and Development, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Communication & Works, Director General Punjab Horticulture Authority as well as Commissioner and District Coordination Officer Lahore were present on the occasion.
The chief minister said that in accordance with the vision of Quaid Pakistan Muslim League-N Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Punjab government has launched Aashiyana Housing Schemes, having modern residential facilities, for the poor, workers, cultivators and the common man. He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N has translated the dream of the common man to have a house with all basic amenities into reality. He said that it is lamentable that while the rich have all the privileges at the doorstep of their mansions, the common man is deprived even of basic facilities. He said that more land has been acquired for Aashiyana Housing Scheme and a new small city having 4500 houses will be developed at this place. He said that measures are also being taken for the provision of basic amenities in the localities surrounding Aashiyana Housing Schemes.
The Chief Minister directed Commissioner and DCO Lahore to review the policy regarding private colonies in the provincial metropolis and those colonies should be got completed at any cost where development work has been left unfinished and people have been cheated. Otherwise, he said, stern action be taken against the builders. He said that the project of construction of schools in Aashiyana Housing Schemes should be started immediately for the benefit of children of the residents. The Chief Minister said that arrangements should also be made for launching bus service for providing transport facility to residents of the scheme. He said that a comprehensive system should be evolved for providing health, education and other facilities to the dwellers of Aashiyana Housing Scheme without interference of government departments. He said that Daanish Schools and Aashiyana Housing Schemes are the project for the poor and common man and are being executed in a transparent manner and media should highlight these welfare-oriented projects. Later, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a mosque in Aashiyana Housing Scheme and also planted a sapling. He also inspected under- construction houses. Earlier, the Chief Minister reviewed the construction work of the link road of Aashiyana Housing Scheme and issued instructions for its early completion as well as undertaking tree plantation on both sides of the road.