ISLAMABAD, March 15: The ministry of housing has launched construction work on its housing scheme in Kurri after it got vacated a stay order that was issued on the first day of its inauguration.

“The stay order has been vacated and we have started construction work from today,” Secretary Ministry of Housing Kamran Lashari told Dawn on Thursday.

The housing scheme for government employees in grade 20-22 was launched by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on February 9 but on the same day a government servant obtained the stay order from Islamabad High Court barring the ministry from initiating infrastructure work on the scheme.

“We have started construction of the outer wall of the scheme and will be trying to complete the project within the stipulated time,” the secretary said. He said under the scheme, 650 housing units would be constructed and given to the government employees on ownership basis.

“The scheme envisages provision of houses to the federal government officers from grade 20 and above on their retirement which is first of its kind all over the country,” he said.

The scheme, he added, was on the lines of Pakistan Army Welfare Directorate Scheme for the officers of Federally Constituted Occupational Groups (20-22) as well as civilian officers of Inter Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, National Assembly, Senate Secretariat and Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) acquired 90.8 acres of land from Capital Development Authority (CDA) to construct the housing units for the federal government officers. — Syed Irfan Raza