KARACHI: Construction of quake-proof houses ordered
KARACHI, Feb 18: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that quality, transparency and clarity should be the symbol of Taiser Town Housing scheme. He said that people had started reposing confidence in this scheme due to the government’s efforts, and the overwhelming public response to it in the first phase reflected the very trust.
Dr Ibad was speaking at the presentation of low-cost housing schemes at Taiser Town and MDA Scheme-1.
Adviser on Local Government Waseem Akhtar, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, DCO Karachi Fazlur Rehman, MDA Project Director Amirzada Kohati and other officials were present on the occasion.
The governor stressed that international standards be maintained in the construction and the structures should be quake-proof.
He approved the models A, B and C, designed on concrete structure, and discarded D, which was designed on load bearing walls.
He said that while negotiating with the DFI for loan, flexibility in repayment must be ensured. If someone, at any stage, expressed his desire to pay the outstanding amount in lump sum, he should be encouraged and no redemption be charged in such cases.
The governor appreciated the idea that an allottee would not be made to pay any instalment before he took possession of his house.
He said that as per the specification prepared by the MDA, an equal opportunity should be provided to developers by inviting expressions of interest for the construction of 50 model houses of different categories within one year.
He asked the authorities concerned to complete all formalities as soon as possible, and emphasized on maintaining the already built credibility throughout the process by keeping up transparency and merit.
Dr Ibad took a serious note of the advertisement regarding sale/purchase of the plots in Taiser Town, and ordered action against those involved in such activities.
He was informed that the cost of houses in categories A, B and C would be Rs415,000, 400,000 and 350,000 and the covered area would be 636, 602, and 600 square feet, respectively with same structure but different finishing.
The instalments would range between Rs2,000 and 3,945 over the first four years, though there would be no payment required to be made in the first year.
The governor stressed that the construction in this scheme should have a guarantee of 75-100 years. He called for starting construction, along with infrastructure development and provision of amenities, immediately.
He also called for ensuring establishment of an IT and call centre park, and said that the concept should be marketed internationally in order to involve the best companies in the world in setting up these facilities with the state-of-the-art technologies.—APP
