PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday inaugurated a low-cost housing scheme executed under the Naya Pakistan Housing Programme (NPHP) in Jalozai area of Nowshera district.

A statement issued here said that the housing scheme, covering an area of 150 kanals of land, had been implemented at an estimated cost of Rs3.3 billion. The scheme would have a total of 1,320 apartments, each with a covered area of 780 square feet.

The housing scheme is specifically designed for people with a monthly income of less than Rs50,000, the statement said.

The eligibility criterion (monthly income) was verified by National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority.

Says scheme completed within short period of one and a half year

Under the scheme, each apartment received a subsidy of Rs300,000 from the federal government and Rs400,000 from the provincial government with the purpose to provide affordable housing facilities to the middle and lower-income segments of the society.

In the first phase of the scheme, 116 apartments have been allotted, whereas work on remaining apartments is in progress.

On this occasion, Mr Gandapur also inaugurated a sports complex in the Jalozai Housing Scheme.

The complex, which has been completed at an estimated cost of Rs17 million, includes a squash court, futsal ground, artificial tennis and basketball courts, as well as a 500-meter-long jogging track. The central park covers a total area of 42 kanals, with eight kanals allocated for sports facilities. Provincial cabinet members Mian Khaliqur Rehman, Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, Dr Amjad Ali, MPA Mian Umar Kakakhel, commissioner Peshawar and others were also present on the occasion.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mr Gandapur said that providing affordable residential facilities to low-income people was the vision of the party’s founding chairman Imran Khan. He added that during the PTI government at the centre, significant progress had been made on various low-cost housing schemes across the country.

The chief minister said the provincial government completed the low-cost housing scheme in Jalozai within a short period of one and a half years. He lauded the efforts of the housing department and others for prioritising and completing the project.

He said that it was the responsibility of the government to provide quality facilities to people in housing, education, health and transport, stating that his government was making every possible effort to fulfil its responsibilities in that regard. He announced that the BRT feeder route to Nowshera would be inaugurated soon, offering quality transport services to commuters.

Mr Gandapur said that the provincial government’s policy regarding provision of free plots to the heirs of government employees, who were martyred in the line of duty, was also being implemented. He emphasised the government’s commitment to advancing sectors that had been left behind.

He said efforts were underway to boost the sectors with revenue-generating potential.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024