TAXILA: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of Phase II of the Workers’ Welfare Fund Labour Complex on Hattar Road.

He said the Rs1.1 billion project would be completed in 24 months.

Comprising a total covered area of 113,024 square feet, the project includes a boys’ high school, a girls’ high school, a junior school and a shopping area, alongside residential facilities.

The second phase, originally launched in 2007, has entered the implementation stage after a delay of 19 years. The first phase of the project comprises 504 residential flats built to provide housing facilities to industrial workers and their families.

Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik lays foundation stone on Hattar Road

Addressing the foundation-stone-laying ceremony, Mr Hussain said that the welfare of workers, protection of their rights and provision of quality education to their children are among the government’s top priorities.

“Respect for the worker is respect for Pakistan. When labourers prosper, Pakistan prospers,” he added.

The minister said efforts were being made to expedite the completion of the project so that families of 70 workers who lost their lives in an incident at Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), Wah, could receive the keys to their flats at the earliest.

He also announced the provision of five additional flats for the families of five POF workers who had been martyred in a blast in August 2021.

He said the government was giving high priority to handing over the completed flats to deserving labour families at the earliest.

Coordination with the relevant ministries and authorities was underway to complete the necessary formalities and hand over the keys to the eligible families. He hinted at handing over 504 residential flats to its allottees in the next two months besides launching the third phase of the project.

Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik, who also addressed the gathering, said the project had remained stalled for an extended period but was now being revived to ensure that workers and their families received the housing facilities promised to them. He said the scheme must benefit its genuine beneficiaries and stressed the importance of completing the development work within the announced timeframe.

Chairman of the Punjab Assembly Standing Committee on Finance Mohsin Ayub Khan said he and Barrister Malik had made concerted efforts to revive the project. He said three to four meetings had been held to address the issues delaying the scheme, paving the way for the launch of Phase II.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2026