ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: The Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) would soon launch a new housing scheme to construct 15,000 houses for lower grade employees, Secretary Housing and Works Abdul Rauf Chaudhry said here on Tuesday.

A a separate scheme for the officer of grade 17 and above would also be launched for ensuring housing facilities to them; land is being searched in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in this regard, he added.

Both schemes would be initiated simultaneously; eight per cent quota would be reserved for the employees of various corporations. The projects would be completed in a period of three years in phases, he told PTV.

FGEHF has already allotted more than 15,000 plots to the eligible employees in Peshawar, Karachi and Islamabad. Another 1,000 flats of various categories are being constructed in Islamabad would be handed over to the eligible employees by June 2007, he said.

CDA has allocated Sector I-15 to low income employees; 6,000 plots and 9,000 apartments are also being constructed. Provincial governments are finalising a policy to allot three to five marla plots to low income people, he said.

The shortage of houses in the country is around 570,000 units while production is only 300,000 units. The government has ensured every possible facility to private builders aiming to bridge the gap between demand and supply of houses, he added.

Pinpointing acute shortage of government owned houses, he said there are only 28,000 housing units for government employees while the number of entitled employees is more than 350,000.

A transparent criteria for allotment of official accommodations have been devised. The names of 17,000 people on waiting-list have been put on website to ensure transparency. Furthermore, a proposal have been put forth urging termination of hiring. Employees would be paid amount in accordance with their ceiling with their salary.—APP