FAISALABAD: According to a local real estate consultant and architect 15 pieces of state land are available in Faisalabad city areas which can be used for the establishment of housing schemes, high-rises, commercial markets, hospitals etc.

Mr Shah Nawaz, an architect and the owner of a real estate investment consultancy, who has also designed a number of mega projects in the city, said these pieces of state land were lying vacant for decades, giving no benefit to the national kitty.

A member of the District Planning and Design Committee headed by the commissioner, Mr Nawaz told Dawn that he along with his team conducted a study spending two months and identified these pieces of state land “to help government in initiating housing schemes and other projects there”.

The architect said he had prepared complete feasibility reports and designs (prepared free of charge) of the buildings and apartments which could be constructed on the state land. He claimed that if his plan was executed, it could help the government to initiate various projects without spending even a penny on the designs and feasibility reports.

Naming his grand project ‘Khud Kafeel Faisalabad (self-sustaining Faisalabad), he claimed that the lands identified by him could be used for construction of 36,324 shops (288 sqft each), 368,748 apartments (600 sqft each), 17,624 flee market units, 885 district court units (600 sqft each), 4,437 hospital rooms (288 Sqft each) and parking lots for 267,025 cars.

Elaborating his ambitious plan, he said as many 1,792 kanals meant for Steam Power Station, Nishatabad, could be used for construction of 19,528 shops, 140,601 apartments and parking lot for 99,983 vehicles.

Similarly, he said 464 kanal land of railway workshop could be used for building 2,272 shops and 3,4077 apartments, coupled with parking lot for 24,232 cars.

He claimed that the only purpose of his whole effort was to contribute to the welfare of the country and he wanted to help Prime Minister Imran Khan to materialise his dream of providing jobs and houses to the masses.

He said these pieces of land could also be used for Ehsas, Naya Pakistan Housing project and Kamyab Jawan Programme.

“I have designed the feasibility of these projects according to the requirements of these specific sites, which include apartment buildings, healthcare, commercial, educational and recreational projects and upgrade of parks and public spaces”.

Mr Nawaz said he met the Chairman of the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority a couple of days ago who appreciated his work and promised to lay it before the prime minister.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2019