FAISALABAD: The Ashiana Housing Scheme is gradually coming to life. In the 100-house scheme, keys have been handed over to 35 families and of them 11 have started residing in their newly acquired houses.

Imtiaz is is one of them. He says life is comfortable in the scheme. But to get the keys of his house, Imtiaz and other residents had to wait for five years.

The Punjab government launched the scheme for low income people is located on Jaranwala Road near the Borstal Jail.

In 2011, the Punjab government through advertisement invited the applications from the people earning less than Rs20,000 a month for subsidized houses.

The government completed construction work in the scheme about two years ago. The price of a three-marla double-story house is Rs1.19 million, and for that an applicant had to pay 25 per cent of the amount as advance.

The main gate of the scheme is being constructed and a security guard has been deployed at the entrance.

The presence of the guard is a blessing as he does not allow children to go outside the colony, said Anwar, another resident.

Other promised facilities have yet to make to the scheme.

Imtiaz said the government had also promised a health club and a dispensary but none of them were now part of the scheme. He said the residents were facing problems due to the absence of gas.

Other residents urged the government to ensure all the promised facilities at the earliest.

Deputy Commissioner Salman Ghani told Dawn that only 28 allotment holders had paid the amount and obtained keys. He said more families would starting residing in the colony in the next two months as their quarters were being painted. He said a community centre, a commercial market and a school were part of the scheme and land had been dedicated there.

A mosque is under construction in the residential scheme and would be completed by Nov 30, he said, adding that applications for gas connection would be submitted to the department concerned.

Other allotment holders have applied for loans from banks and after receiving the payments from them, keys would be handed over to individuals, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2017