An agreement was signed between Punjab government and a renowned Turkish housing sector institution, here on Saturday under which, Housing Development Administration Turkey (TOKI) will provide technical assistance for construction of 50,000 low cost houses in Punjab.
According to the agreement, Turk institution will provide technical assistance to Punjab government for construction of 25,000 houses in 2016 and further 25,000 houses in 2017.
Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the chief guest of agreement signing ceremony at Model Town. Provincial Minister for Housing Tanvir Aslam Malik signed the agreement on behalf of Punjab government while President of the institution Mehmet Ergun Turan on behalf of TOKI. Turk Ambassador in Pakistan S Babur Girgin was also present on the occasion.
Talking to the media on the occasion, Sharif said that the agreement between Punjab Government and the prominent Turk public housing sector is a welcome step. He said that under the leadership of Turk President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, houses were given to hundreds of thousands of Turk people belonging to low segment and the renowned Turk institution TOKI has constructed 800,000t to 900,000 houses during last 15 years and this institution also intends to construct 500,000 more houses during next five years.
The chief minister said that under this model of Turkey, houses have been provided to hundreds of homeless Turk people. He said that under this model, houses are given on easy installments. He said that this Turk model is very popular and successful in other countries including Turkey. Sharif said that he is highly thankful on the arrival of the delegation of TOKI and Pakistan is their second home. He said that we will benefit from their experience in housing sector.
The chief minister said that he is also thankful to Turk President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu who have sent Turk institution for our help. He said that there is lack of low-cost housing schemes for the poor in Pakistan and Punjab. He said residential schemes have been prepared for the rich and elite but no one thought for common man. He said the Punjab government started Aashiyana housing schemes for such great Pakistanis in which hundreds of houses have been built for homeless people. He said energy crisis is the biggest challenge of Pakistan. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, work is being carried out round the clock for overcoming energy crisis and as he is also a member of Energy Committee, therefore, some gap occurred in Aashiyana housing schemes. He said that work has been started on energy projects speedily throughout Pakistan and with the completion of these projects, thousands of megawatt electricity will be added to national grid.
Sharif said that now we will have to pay attention to low-cost housing schemes and forward low-cost housing schemes speedily for the provision of roof to homeless people. For this purpose, today an agreement has been signed with Turk institution TOKI and we will fully benefit from its experience with regard to planning of housing schemes, he added. The chief minister said that Turk institution will extend all-out assistance through its experience like brother, friend and persons of a family and by adopting its model, we will provide roof to such great Pakistanis who are deprived of this facility in the country.
Meanwhile, addressing a high-level meeting on law and order, the chief minister said the Punjab government is taking all-out necessary measures for further improvement of law and order situation and protection of life and property of the citizens. He said that all possible resources have been provided for further improving law and order situation. He said that effective steps have also been taken for curbing the criminals and checking crimes.
Sharif said that timely and effective measures have been taken under National Action Plan approved with national consensus for the elimination of terrorism and extremism in the province. He said that laws have been made more effective and punishments more stringent through necessary amendments for eliminating terrorism, extremism and sectarianism. He said that there is no room for terrorism, extremism and sectarianism in Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the whole nation is united for complete elimination of terrorism from the country.
The chief minister directed agencies concerned to continue indiscriminate action against defunct organisations and their activities should be curbed with full force. He further directed that indiscriminate action should also be continued against publication and distribution of literature based on religious hatred. He said that the law of banning use of loudspeaker and wall-chalking should be implemented strictly. Sharif said that provocative speeches are intolerable and indiscriminate action should be taken against the violators under the law.
