Punjab government has materialised the dream of houses for the poor by launching the Aashiyana Housing Scheme for the first time in the country’s history, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday. He was talking to journalists during his visit to the under-construction Aashiyana Housing Scheme in Saroba Atari. The CM said that the scheme is an important step in the long journey towards provision of modern residential facilities to the poor, which will promote a feeling among them that they have an equal right over national resources of the country as compared to the elite class. Shahbaz said that 3,000 houses are being constructed in the first scheme in Lahore and 480 houses will be completed and handed over to eligible people in July.
He directed officers that a permanent system should be evolved for security, sanitation, maintenance of parks and provision of educational and medical facilities and looking after other affairs in the scheme so that residents should not face any problem. The CM said that Aashiyana Housing schemes have been initiated to provide shelter to the poor and low income people and after Lahore, similar schemes will be started in other cities of the province. Shahbaz said that a quota has been allocated for the disabled, widows, orphans and families of the martyrs in the schemes. He hoped that such schemes will be started throughout the country.
The CM said that high-standard construction work is in progress in the scheme and top quality material is being used for construction of houses. Shahbaz said that provision of infrastructure and civic amenities in the scheme is also in progress speedily. He said that balloting for allotment of houses in the scheme has been conducted in a transparent manner. The CM said that particulars of the allotees are now being verified and people from public and private sectors are engaged in this process, which is also being carried out in a transparent manner. He said that the schemes are meant for the poor and it is being ensured that only eligible people are allotted houses.
The CM said that schools, vocational centers, hospitals, playgrounds, gyms and modern civic amenities are being provided in the scheme. Earlier, Shahbaz inspected two fully-completed houses and appreciated their design and standard and directed officers that the same standard should be maintained in construction of all houses. Reviewing the process of provision of infrastructure, he directed that the process should be further accelerated.
