SIALKOT, Oct 15: The federal government has approved a grand scheme of raising around 10,000 new houses in areas stricken by devastating earthquake for early rehabilitation of survivors.

The project will be completed in active collaboration with the UAE government, which has provided a sum of Rs500 million for this purpose. State Minister for Privatization and Investment Umer Ahmad Ghumman disclosed this while talking to reporters on Saturday in his native Kotli Noonan village, Sambrial.

He said under the scheme houses would be provided to all the earthquake victims free of cost as their early rehabilitation was the top priority of the government.

The state minister said the Board of Investment (BoI) had also donated Rs450 million while Saudi Arab-based trader Shaikh Nasir and the Riyadh governor would also jointly provide 12 million dollars for this purpose.