PESHAWAR: The provincial government has approved three major housing projects and directed the authorities concerned to initiate work on the same at the earliest.

The approval was given at a meeting here on Wednesday chaired by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. Special assistants to chief minister on housing, planning and development, additional chief secretary, secretary housing and other officers were in attendance.

The meeting reviewed progress on the projects of New Hangu City and Peshawar and Nowshera model towns, and took several decisions with regard to the way forward on these schemes, said a statement issued after the meeting.

The chief minister directed the housing department to increase the number of plots of in the Hangu city project from 500 to 2,000 by reducing the proposed size of plots from one kanal to five marlas so as to make them available to low income groups at affordable price and accommodate maximum number of applicants. 

He also directed the revenue department to make necessary arrangements for transferring 1,420 acres of the land, proposed for the Hangu city, to the provincial housing department.

The chief minister also approved five kilometer three-lane expressway from Tarujaba on GT Road to Model Town, Nowshera, and directed to enhance its width from 280 to 320 feet. He also approved the royalty based conceptual plan of Peshawar Model Town for which the land owners had so far offered 13,000 kanals for acquisition.

Meanwhile, in another meeting chaired by the chief minister standardised and uniformed designs were approved for new buildings of schools and colleges which would save millions of rupees that were being paid by the provincial government to designing consultants.

The meeting was told that the design prepared and financially worked out by communication and works department, would also reduce construction and recurring cost of the buildings besides accommodating all necessary facilities as well as a unique aesthetic value of the design.

The separate designs for male and female educational institutions in hilly and plain areas would also provide for students’ hostel, teachers and staff accommodation, daycare centre and security arrangements in girls’ colleges especially in remote areas of the province.    

Speaking at the meeting, the chief minister directed to equip all education institutions with solar system at design level and avoid use of wood for windows. He also directed to provide bachelor accommodation for teachers without deducting their house rent.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play