ISLAMABAD: The ground-breaking ceremony of the Pakistan Housing Project for the rehabilitation of war-affected homeless people of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka was held in Puthukkudiyiruppu village of Mannar town.

The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka, retired Maj Gen Qasim Qureshi, Sri Lankan Minister for Economic Affairs Basil Rajapaksa, Minister for Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen and Northern Province Governor retired Maj Gen G.A. Chandrasiri laid the foundation stone of the project.

According to a message received here Monday, Deputy High Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan Sipra and other notables were also present on the occasion along with a large number of beneficiary families.

The Pakistan Housing Project will help 230 homeless families from Puthukkudiyiruppu, Narikaddu and Moddaikadai villages.

The cost of houses will be borne by the government of Pakistan, while roads, electricity and other external facilities will be contributed by the government of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan commerce minister Basil Rajapaksa announced a matching grant by his government for construction of additional 230 houses for the homeless families.

Last week, the Pakistani high commissioner handed over a cheque for $1million to the minister at the Temple Trees for commencement of the project.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2014