PM Imran Khan stresses need for constructing commercial buildings on private-public partnership basis in expensive sectors of Islamabad


ISLAMABAD, Jan 06 (SABAH): Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the limits of all cities should be well defined to prevent their unplanned spread and to protect green areas.

Chairing a meeting of National Coordination Committee for Housing, Construction, and Development in Islamabad on Thursday, PM Imran Khan said the government is also going to provide 12,400 low-cost and quality flats to the residents of Kachi Abadis of Islamabad.

He stressed the need for constructing commercial buildings on private-public partnership basis in expensive sectors of Islamabad.

The meeting was informed that Capital Development Authority and Naya Pakistan Housing Authority will provide subsidy for these flats.

All civic facilities will be ensured in these flats, besides, keeping the monthly installments at minimum level.

The Prime Minister said so far 38 billion rupees have been provided to the people to build their own houses.

Imran Khan said a cricket stadium of international standard will be constructed in Islamabad.

He said Azad Kashmir has great potential for the promotion of tourism, which needs to be exploited. He called for making stringent laws to stop illegal construction in Azad Kashmir.

The Prime Minister said quality and low-cost housing units will be constructed for refugees of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

It was told that the AJK Government will provide land worth 5.6 billion rupees for the construction of residences for refugees and 1,300 families will be provided houses in the first phase.

The Prime Minister instructed to take all possible steps to protect forests and natural diversity.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Imran Khan said urban development through modern real estate projects like Ravi Urban Development Authority, the Central Business District, Walton and the Nullah Lai Expressway are key priorities for the government to expedite.

Chairing a review meeting on these projects, he said this is first time in history of the country that the dead capital in the form of unused government land is being turned into a valuable asset through these innovative projects.

He said these projects will not only create job opportunities but also fulfill the needs of a growing urban population.

Earlier, the Prime Minister was informed that the CBD has planned to generate revenue through auction of seven mixed use commercial plots in Lahore downtown.

Besides, construction of Burj Jinnah, which will be Pakistan’s tallest skyscraper, construction of two premium residential towers at Bab-e-Pakistan and 500-bed hospital in Pakistan CBD Square and Walton Road Flyover as well as building a classic aviation museum to preserve Walton Airport’s heritage is also among the CBD’s goals.

The Prime Minister was also apprised that an effective awareness campaign has been launched through the media to maximize revenue through local and foreign investment in these historic projects.

Imran Khan directed the concerned authorities to remove all legal hurdles at the earliest to attract more investors.