Pakistan's low-cost housing project to start in March

ISLAMABAD, march 13 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Minister for housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema said the federal government has decided to formally commence construction work on the country's low-cost housing project this month, local reports said on Wednesday.

The government has identified sites in the federal capital Islamabad and southwest Quetta city for the project and construction will begin by the end of march, the minister told the Senate Standing Committee on housing and Works on Tuesday.

In October last year, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan unveiled the project "Naya (new) Pakistan housing Program" under which the government would build five million houses in all four provinces of the country for the underprivileged over the next five years.

During the meeting, the minister said local and foreign companies will be invited to invest in the program, adding that international companies investing in the project will be bound to use locally produced raw material as well as Pakistani laborers.

The committee was told that 91 "Expressions of Interests" had been initially received for one million houses of the total housing units and that the government would ensure transparency at all stages of the project.

Earlier on Monday, the prime minister, while addressing a ceremony in connection with the launch of State Bank of Pakistan's finance policy for low-cost housing, said ever since his government took office, their focus has been on efforts to lift the lowest segments of the society.

The project, stipulated to generate six million jobs, is a key project of Pakistan's ruling Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party for poverty alleviation.

The PTI leadership considers that its flagship housing program would be a boost to the country's economy and create jobs for the youth besides providing roof to the people.