PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that the provincial government is taking concrete steps to provide residential facilities to people as per the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, which is an important step towards establishment of a welfare state.

He was addressing a ceremony held here on Monday at Chief Minister’s House in connection with handing over provisional allotment letters of residential plots to the journalists of Swat in Media Colony of Dangram housing scheme.

It is pertinent to mention here that the total area of Dangram housing scheme is 500 kanals, which consists of 682 plots. According to the plan, 426 plots in the housing scheme measure five marlas each and 256 plots measure seven marlas each.

In the housing scheme, 71 plots measuring 5 marlas are reserved for the journalists of Swat district on self-finance basis. About 37 per cent of the area of has been reserved for residential areas, 3.5 per cent for commercial purpose, 33 per cent for parks and green area and about two per cent for graveyard in the housing scheme.

Other features of the housing scheme include underground electrification, an underground sewerage system, a sewerage treatment plant, mosque, educational facilities, health facilities and other basic amenities.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that provincial government was taking concrete steps to provide residential facilities to its citizens as per the vision of PTI chairman Imran Khan. He said that it was an important step towards the establishment of a welfare state.

He said that provincial government also launched housing societies in other districts of the province to provide residential facilities to people.

The chief minister highlighted the role of journalists in strengthening democracy. He added that government believed in freedom of press and was taking pragmatic measures for the welfare of journalists.

Provincial ministers Dr Amjad Ali and Mohibullah Khan, MPA Fazal Hakeem Khan, Information and Public Relations Secretary Arshad Khan, Swat Press Club general secretary Niaz Ahmad Khan, Swat Union of Journalists general secretary Saleem Athar and member of governing body Shirenzada also attended the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2022