CHIEF Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that a low-cost housing scheme is being initiated in the province under public-private partnership for providing residential facilities to the citizens having low income.

He said the government was aware of the problems of homeless people and it would provide them low-cost residential facilities and directed the officials concerned to evolve a strategy in this regard within a week.

He was presiding over a meeting regarding low-cost housing scheme here on Monday. The chief minister said that in order to provide shelter to the homeless families, the government would provide free five-marla residential plots each to 46,000 such families. He said low-cost housing schemes were of vital importance and the government would give a practical shape to these schemes with the cooperation of private sector. He said under the low-cost housing scheme, new cities would be developed near the Motorway and airports where all basic facilities would be made available. He said the step would not only promote economic activities but would also help reduce the pressure of population on big cities.

Shahbaz said the government would provide land for low-cost housing schemes while the private sector would undertake the construction work. He directed those concerned that while planning residential schemes, attention should be paid to their financial capacity and resources of the homeless so that the government efforts should not add to their economic problems.

Giving a briefing, Low-Cost Housing Scheme Committee Chairman MNA Engr Khurram Dastagir informed that the scheme could be immediately started in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Jhelum and Layyah. He said that three and five-marla houses would be constructed under the scheme. The senior member Board of Revenue, Secretary Housing, Managing Director Bank of Punjab, representatives of private developers and officers concerned were present.

Meanwhile, the chief minister paid surprise visits to different Ramazan bazaars in Okara, Deplapur and Kasur. He visited different stalls of consumer items in the cities and checked their prices and supply. He asked from the people about the supply of floor and sugar, saying that provision of Sasta flour, sugar and other essential items to people during Ramazan was his responsibility which he would fulfil at any cost.

RAMAZAN DASTARKHAN PROGRAMME:

While inspecting Ramazan Dastarkhan at Makkah Colony, Gulberg, after returning from his visit to Okara and Kasur, the chief minister said Ramazan Dastarkhans were being arranged throughout the province with the cooperation of philanthropists where besides Iftari, food was also being served to the faithful. He said he would visit different areas of the province to review the Ramazan Dastarkhan Programme.

Shahbaz also enquired from people about the arrangements for the Ramazan Dastarkhan Programme who expressed their satisfaction and termed the programme a commendable step of the Punjab government. The Lahore commissioner and DCO were also present.

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