ALAHORE – The Aashiyana Housing Scheme is a revolutionary project of the Punjab government for the low-income segments of the province, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday. He was addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Aashiyana Housing Scheme at Atari Saroba, Ferozepur Road. Shahbaz said that the project was an important step towards transforming the country in accordance with the vision of the Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.
The CM said that like other Punjab government projects, the Aashiyana Housing Scheme will be completed in a transparent way and all houses will be allotted through balloting. Shahbaz said that five percent quota has been reserved for widows, orphans, the disabled and martyrs in the scheme and the Punjab government will make down payments of Rs 0.25 million for the houses of widows and martyrs. He said that Aashiyana was the first housing scheme which was being constructed on a costly land. The CM said that all modern residential facilities will be provided in the scheme so that low-income people could realise that they also have a right to enjoy a comfortable living.
Shahbaz said that 3,000 houses of two and three marla will be constructed in the scheme and every possible effort will be made to complete the houses within a year. He said that a loan facility will also be provided to 95 percent of plot owners at minimum interest rates from the Bank of Punjab and such housing schemes will be constructed throughout the province. The CM informed the audience that there will be no quota for the Punjab CM and the provincial government in the scheme.
Talking to journalists, Shahbaz said that those people were criticising the Punjab government who had plundered the provincial exchequer in the Ring Road and Lahore-Kasur Road projects, looted the Bank of Punjab and left no opportunity of fleecing the general public.
Earlier, the CM laid the foundation stone of the project and unveiled the plaque of the link road. Shahbaz was informed that the scheme will cost around Rs 3 billion and a central park and playground will be developed over 16 kanals and a mosque of four kanals will also be constructed in the scheme. A community centre, medical centre, school and commercial plazas will also be constructed in this scheme, the CM was informed.
