PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would launch two big housing schemes in provincial metropolis, said Dr Amjad Ali, special assistant to chief minister, here on Wednesday.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, he said that the schemes costing Rs954 billion would generate 0.6 million jobs. “These mega projects include Peshawar Model Town and CPEC City,” he added.

Dr Amjad said that agreements were signed with Frontier Works Organisation to ensure completion of the schemes within shortest possible time. He said that estimated cost of Peshawar Model Town was $5 billion that consisted of 108,500 kanals having 81,000 residential plots.

Similarly, he said, the $4 billion CPEC City scheme of 80,000 kanals would have 62,000 residential plots. Both the housing schemes would accommodate 1,000,000 people, he added.

Dr Amjad said that total investment in both the projects would be up to Rs954 billion. He said that the housing schemes would have modern facilities including five star hotels, gold course, shopping malls, educational institutions, medical complex, filling stations, sports facilities and power generating system.

CM’s special assistant says projects to cost Rs954bn

The lawmaker said that the projects would help to resolve the problem of unemployment. He said that Peshawar Model Town would also have media enclave to resolve residential problems of journalists.

Dr Amjad said that journalists in other districts would also be provided residential plots in the safelight towns to be established under the vision-2025, initiated by PTI government. “These houses will be low cost and equipped with basic facilities. The scheme will be initiated in Hazara division,” he added.

He said that government would also construct low cost houses on five-marla plots under its ‘Khpal Kor’ scheme. The owners would construct the houses and for the purpose bank loans would be provided to them on easy conditions. A pilot project of the plan would be initiated on state land at Dheri Zardad near Charsadda Interchange of motorway that was approved by PHA on Dec 13, 2016.

He said that about 200,000 beneficiaries of the project would include government employees, pensioners and poor people. The estimated cost of per house would be up to Rs1.7 million, he added.

Dr Amjad said that government would also launch housing schemes on basis of public-private partnership in Behram Dheri Charsadda, Dangram Swat, Surizai Peshawar and Swarai Buner. He said that proposals in that regard were sought from the relevant departments.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2017