ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Housing and Works is working on a plan that promises construction of 500,000 houses in different parts of the country for people with low income and do not have proper shelters.

The initiative is part of the Prime Minister Housing Scheme under which poor people will be provided houses on easy instalments.

Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani chaired a meeting of the board of directors on the low-cost housing scheme here on Monday.

Mr Durrani said that sites for construction of these housing units had been identified in the districts of Charsadda, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Lahore, Jehlum, Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and Gwadar.

He directed the officials concerned to start the process of acquiring land in other districts so that work could be started there without delay.

“Time is very short and we have to proceed very quickly to construct 500,000 housing units as per government commitment with people,” he said.

Mr Durrani said that all hurdles in the way of early execution and implementation of the project should be removed before the next meeting slated for March 19.

Clear directives have been issued to the board members that the project has to be completed within the tenure of

the present government so that the commitment made by the prime minister with people is fulfilled.

Published in Dawn March 3rd , 2015

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