CDA to look into Land allotment for Naya Pakistan Housing Programme

ISLAMABAD: Naya Pakistan Housing program inaugurated by the Prime Minister, matters of land transfer to be decided in the board meeting of Capital Development Authority.

The cabinet approved the mutation of 508 kanals of CDA land next to Askari VI, Mauza Chaklala, for the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) in the district of Rawalpindi, under the Naya Pakistan Housing Programme on the acquisition rate of utilization, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and works were informed on Wednesday.

Under the programme, 25,000 homes will be built on two sites in Rawalpindi and Islamabad according to plan. 70% of the houses will be allotted for BPS-1 to 16 employees and 30% for BPS-17 to 21 in Chakala.

Instead of the acquisition of land as directed by cabinet, Housing and Works Secretary Dr Imran Zeb Khan said: “the rate of developed land for government accommodation were levied at Rs11, 000 per square yard by the CDA, at the recent cabinet meeting” as this matter will further be taken up in the board meeting as well.

Presentation of a detailed proposal by the FGEHF was advised, in accordance with the change of land use for the entire Mauve Area for G-13 and G-14 through the housing and works ministry for consideration by the CDA board. Dr. Khan informed that “in accordance with the cabinet decision, for Islamabad, the G-13 site was selected for the construction of 6,000 units. The cabinet approved the change in land use in the Mauve Area of sectors G-13 and G-14 for use as a residential scheme only.”

The CDA has informed that the floor area ratio presently allowed is up to ground and nine stories in the Mauve Area, for the height zoning.

Categorical directives are wanted by the CDA from the cabinet, for the construction of high-rise buildings in the aforementioned area, which will be endorsed by the CDA after. For minimum prices of apartments, it is suggested that some of the floors are constructed for commercial purposes and auctioned to cross-subsidies.

Questions about the housing programme’s financial model have been raised by the committee members. “How would a low-income employee, earning Rs17, 000 will make the down payment for a home and also pay the monthly installments of Rs10, 000 to Rs12, 000?” asked Chaudhry Abid Raza. As he further highlighted that for the success of this scheme, an apt financial model needs to be established, or else the homes would be sold to property dealers and the employees will not get anything.

The construction of houses meets international standards, with two rooms, a washroom, and a kitchen. A report on the programme’s progress to be submitted at the next meeting as the committee chair Mohammad Najeed Haroon asked the ministry.

“One room houses do not fall in the category of a house,” he said.

The programme was a good initiative and work should start as soon as possible. A land bank should be established for the construction of homes, he said.

The committee was told that the government has made the Pakistan Housing Foundation, and all the work according to this will be carried out under this foundation.