The housing project is the first of its kind in AJK, and it was developed in collaboration with the Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT). This initiative will build separate colonies of 500 houses in Azad Kashmir’s four districts of Neelam, Kotli, Bagh, and Mirpur. 

The initiative will be a joint effort between the KROT and the AJK government, with each bearing an equal share of the costs. 

 Furthermore, it was announced that the aforementioned homes will be distributed evenly based on the government’s assessment, while priority will be given to families of martyrs killed in shelling along the Line of Control (LoC). the premier also announced the development of protective bunkers along the LOC to protect people from intentional violations of the ceasefire. 

He noted that the initiatives were started by the government to honor the contributions of martyrs to the land. 

It must be noted that the AJK is an autonomous region of Pakistan, having its own political structure and distinct character. This housing project is also the state’s first attempt to provide people with housing. 

In addition, last month, a commercial helicopter flight service was launched by President Dr. Arif Alvi in Bagh to promote tourism in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). 

President Alvi stated at the launch ceremony of the helicopter flight service ‘Kashmir Air’ that AJK had been blessed with enormous tourism potential because of its abundant natural splendor. He requested the private sector to steer the region’s tourism development. 

The president, during his visit to AJK, advised the government to develop and implement advanced tourism-friendly policies that will attract private sector investment and promote sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism. 

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While briefing the PAC, the audit officials said that the KPT assigned land to the housing societies on a 99-year lease back in 1996 and 2005. A total of 130 hectares of land was allotted to the KPT Officers Housing Society at 10 paise per square meter. The annual lease of the land given to DHA was only Rs. 287.5 million, officials revealed. 

The officials stated that KPT suffered a huge loss of Rs. 104 billion in a time period of 16 years because of this policy. In spite of repetitive instructions, KPT never inquired into the matter, officials told the media. 

On the basis of arguments, PAC ordered NAB to investigate the matter and submit its report within a month. 

The committee was held under the chairmanship of Noor Alam Khan, during which it was apprised about the non-recovery of $55.2 million in rent from South Asia Pakistan Terminals Ltd. (SAPT) for the last couple of years. PAC also directed the authorities to fix the liabilities soon after conducting an inquiry in this regard. 

In addition, PAC also extensively discussed the current development projects in Gwadar. While replying to chairman PAC Noor Alam Khan’s question regarding the non-usage of Rs. 1.5 billion reserved for Gwadar East Bay Expressway, Secretary of Ministry of Maritime Affairs said that the Chinese company, working on the expressway project, has already used the funds reserved in this regard. 

Meanwhile, to reduce workload, PAC decided to form four sub-committees, which would be supervised by Wajiha Qamber, Burgees Tahir, Senator Salim Mandviwala, and Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed. 

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In addition, 150,712 low-cost housing units were under construction across the country under different housing projects initiated with the help of provincial governments, sources from the Ministry of Housing and Works told the media. 

They stated that the balloting for 1,508 low-cost housing units of WWF in Zone-V, Islamabad, 2,000 units of Farash Town, CDA, Islamabad, 4,000 low-cost housing units of LDA City Lahore, 839 housing units of Raiwind, Chiniot, and Sargodha and 300 low-cost housing units of PHA Housing Scheme, Nowshera, Jalozai, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been conducted. 

The cases of 9,563 contenders successful in balloting for under-construction housing units were in process for housing finance, they added. 

Moreover, the low-cost housing projects were being carried out in collaboration with Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA), Development Authorities, and Workers Welfare Fund (WWF). 

Responding to the question about the sub-sector G-14/1, sources informed that affectees of the area had appealed to the Islamabad High Court to assess and measure illegal built-up properties (BUPS) along with GIS based on old and genuine BUPs. 

They added the case remained still sub-judice and the IHC was hearing the case every second or third day. The court has ordered to finish measurement of BUPs of Sector G-14/2 first. 

With regard to sub-Sector G-14/1, FGEHA has requested the court to direct members of the affectees’ committee to coordinate on daily basis for measurement of legal/illegal BUPs, sources added. 

Furthermore, the FGEHA has not executed any work in Sub-Sector G-14/1, Islamabad since access was not allowed to FGEHA and its survey teams by local people. 

They remarked that local occupants may have carried out works on their own or through any other department for their basic requirements and access to residential and commercial units. 

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A member of the World Bank Group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in its recent report, titled “Pakistan Housing Finance, Is there a business case for financial institutions?”,  said that there exists a huge demand for housing units from Pakistan’s low-income segment.

But, the existing supply is negligible. Just 1 percent of the housing supply supplies to 68 percent of the population earning a monthly income of up to $188.

The report further stated that, mostly, the housing supply targets the high and affluent class according to commercial viability and affordability. Almost 56 percent of housing units have the ability to cater to 12 percent of the population earning a monthly income of more than $625. Besides, Housing Finance has the capability to expand in Pakistan, the IFC report added.

Moreover, the report also underscores that in spite of a low national mortgage-to-GDP ratio, Financial Institutions are merely restricted to Tier 1 cities for their mortgage finance products.

It added that with the proper products, systems, and funding, mortgage finance can be extended to 26 cities, with the ability to reach nearly 500,000 additional clients across different income segments.

The IFC report noted the challenges in the housing sector in Pakistan comprising a shortage of affordable housing supply, disputes with land titling, administration, registration, and record-keeping, inadequate medium- to long-term funding, nascent capital markets for raising long-term funding, and limited capacity of Financial Institutions to offer and manage housing finance. The urban population is around 25 percent; over 208 million people had the expectation to double between 2030-40. The ratio of Mortgage-to-GDP is 0.3 percent in Pakistan while in South Asia’s average is 3.4 percent, the report said, adding that the current housing deficit is more than 10 million units which is projected to increase by 0.4 million units per year.

The post Pakistan Can Generate Loans Worth $3.8 Billion from Low-Income Housing Market appeared first on Property Mahir.

In this regard, an important meeting was held under the headship of Chief Minister K-P Mahmood Khan. It comprehensively discussed different matters related to the proposed housing scheme and made important decisions. 

The occasion was also attended by Provincial Minister for Housing Amjad Ali Khan and Minister for Local Government Faisal Amin Ghandapur. 

Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, Secretary Law Masood Ahmad, Secretary Planning and Development Shah Mahmood, Secretary Local Government Zaheerul Islam,  and other senior officials were also present. 

The members of the meeting were briefed that the housing scheme would be built on the southern part of Bannu and linked through Bannu-Lakki Road. The first-ever green and sustainable housing scheme of KP would have all the facilities of modern civic life, the meeting was told. 

It was further told that Provincial Working Development Party had already given approval to PC-1 of the project worth Rs62 million. 

Moreover, the meeting decided to transfer the implementation of the project from the Local Government Department to Housing Department with the intention to start construction work on the project at the earliest possible time and accomplish the project in the given stipulated time period. 

The chair of the meeting ordered the authorities concerned to call up a board meeting of the Provincial Housing Authority to officially hand over the project to the housing department for accelerated execution. 

He called the recommended project an important one as it would be helpful to meet the ever-increasing demands of residential accommodation in southern parts of the province. 

In addition, while intimating at performing the groundbreaking of the project in his forthcoming visit to district Bannu, the chief minister ordered the officials to put in place all the essential arrangements for the purpose. 

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The CDA’s Development Working Party (DWP) meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of  CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed, gave a go-ahead to the revised PC-I of the scheme, growing its cost from Rs15 billion to Rs31 billion.

As per the earlier PC-I, 3,960 proposed flats were proposed, out of whom 400 were for the people of slums, 2,000 for Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority, and 1,560 for the CDA to sell in the open market.

Under the revised PC-I, it has been suggested that the scheme will contain 4,276 apartments and the CDA 1,876, which will be constructed as luxury apartments for sale in the market.

Moreover, the CDA is also looking forward to submitting a summary to the federal cabinet seeking an end to the civic agency’s deal with Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority, because it has still not deposited the initial amount with the CDA.

According to the CDA representative, if the cabinet allowed the civic body to end its deal with the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority, it will then build 3,876 apartments to sell in the open market.

He added that the project was started last year and now the complete project would be completed by August 2024.

Likewise, the CDA-DWP also gave approval to the Islamabad bus service project for the entire city. The estimated cost of the project is Rs7,240.62 million.

Under the PC-I scheme, the project will help meet future travel demands in Islamabad after the approval of eight different routes.

Meanwhile, the board also gave its accord to the PC-I of the Margalla Hill Sanctuary Park after addressing issues of the Planning Commission.

The meeting also sanctioned PC-II for hiring consultants to establish Capital Medical College in the Capital Hospital.

Road rehabilitation and widening project from Pinstech Gate No. 1 to Gate No 3 on Lehtrar Road was also approved by the DWP.

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According to the CDA official, the societies were needed to register in the district in which they were located; but, they failed to obey CDA’s directives as a result their licenses have been canceled.

These societies include WAPDA Employees Cooperative Housing Society, Veterans Cooperative Housing Society, OGDC Officers Cooperative Housing Society, Work No Word Cooperative Housing Society, Foreign Office Employees Cooperative Housing Society, Ministry of Commerce Employees Cooperative Housing Society, Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) Society, Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society, National Police Foundation, and Federal Shariat Court Employees Housing Society to name a few.

The notice for cancelation will soon be issued.

It is to be mentioned here that CDA has already closed offices of two housing societies in the span of a week. These societies are Rawal Enclave, an illegal and unapproved housing scheme in Islamabad’s Zone 4, and Ghouri Town.

Moreover, a couple of years back, CDA had declared two Housing Schemes illegal and annulled the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) of three housing schemes.

Housing Societies Directorate of Capital Development Authority has declared authorization of two housing schemes and has canceled NOCs of three housing societies.

These housing schemes included Mauza Gora Mast, Zone-V, Islamabad, Tele Town Housing Scheme, and Icon Gardens Apartments. Project Moza Gogota Syedan, Zone-V, Islamabad was also declared illegal. The financers of these illegal housing schemes/land sub-divisions did not obtain any approval / NOC from CDA.

In contrast, the Housing Societies Directorate of Capital Development Authority had also withdrawn NOCs for the layout plan of three housing schemes. These three housing schemes comprised Roshan Pakistan Housing Scheme, Zone-II, Islamabad, Soan Garden Housing Scheme, Zone – V, Islamabad, and Pak Medical Housing Scheme, E-11, Islamabad. The licenses of these three Housing Schemes have been annulled for not fulfilling the directions of the authority.

The post CDA Cancels Licenses of 14 Housing Societies appeared first on Property Mahir.

When the extreme resentment was shown by the applicants, particularly those who had made down payment of the loan to avail of the subsidy facility announced by the last government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced that the government is reshaping the scheme.

Talking to Twitter, Miftah said many people were complaining to him that their loans were approved in the Mera Ghar scheme and that they have paid money based on that approval. “I want to assure you that we are reshaping this scheme and no one will lose their money. We will resolve the issues within the next week.”

Last month SBP paused loan disbursement under Mera Pakistan Mera Ghar (MPMG) scheme till August 31, 2022, as well as delaying fresh disbursements under the Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme till July 15, 2022.

Soon after the incident, the applicants and beneficiaries of the housing program started showing their anger and they even decided to protest outside the central bank in Karachi and in front of the Ministry of Finance in Islamabad against the unexpected postponement of the program.

However, the SBP said that the reason for suspending both schemes was the same: “Government of Pakistan is considering review/revise features of the subject scheme in light of recent developments in the macroeconomic scenario.”

Moreover, the SBP data shows that as of 31 May 2022, PKR 473 billion had been demanded, PKR 212 billion had been accepted, and PKR 85 billion had been distributed under MPMG. The outstanding credit for housing and construction remained at PKR 415 billion for May 2022.

 “The disbursement has already been stopped soon after the budget 2022-23,” an SBP official said.

 “It was realized when banks started demanding funds under the scheme that they have crossed the disbursement limit set for the outgoing fiscal year,” an official at the ministry of finance claimed, adding, “Apart from the huge claims of banks, there was a complete lack of coordination among the concerned departments including SBP, banks, and ministry of finance, which ultimately resulted in the mess.”

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According to the recent details, the Revenue and Field Officers are given the responsibility to review the record and formulate a fresh list of the private housing societies that are operating illegally without getting approval from the relevant authorities.

The civic authority, in July last year, found 140 private and cooperative housing schemes in the federal capital territory as unauthorized and illegal, and they did not have approval because of the non-submission of layout plans and NOC.

The 2-tier permission for private housing schemes is given which includes the issuance of NOC along with approval after submission of the layout plan. The registration process comprises 19 major steps and 29 intermediate steps. It takes almost two-and-a-half years for the NOC to be sanctioned by the civic agency. When the NOC is approved, the development work can take as much as two decades to conclude.

Moreover, the government has not started any new housing scheme in the last many decades which is the reason the private sector was encouraged to enter the housing market to handle the rising housing demand in Islamabad.

According to an official, when this list would be completed, the unauthorized housing societies would be immediately directed to stop development work to evade legal action. “We will not allow illegal housing societies to carry out development work because they cannot do it without obtaining NOC from the district administration,” he added. He further stated “We have already developed a mechanism that helps the people review the legal status of the housing society before buying any plot or property. Now the new survey is also part of the efforts aiming at ensuring the protection of investment in the private housing societies.”

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Talking with the media men, the former chairperson of UNESCO and UN-KAKHTAH-DRR at the Punjab University declared that a contract had already been made with the housing project under the South Asian Hydro-de-tox initiative, outlined and defined by the SAIRI report on subsoil hydro-toxicity.

SAIR (Saarc-Asean Interdisciplinary Research Initiative) released an investigative report last month which underlined that hydro-toxicity, the gradual poisoning of underground water reservoirs, is the main issue behind outbreaks of epidemics in different parts of Pakistan.

Dr. Khalida Khan, the former holder and the owner of the echo-conservancy model in the country stated that the echo-conservancy plan was being financed by Homayoun Akhtar Choudhry, the CEO of Yuasa Private (Ltd) Japan, an international automobile corporation, and an executive member of Pakistan Japan Intellect Forum (PJIF).

Being a strong and staunch advocate of the echo-conservancy sewerage-drainage system, Dr. Khalida Khan was said the Strategic Researcher of the Year 2018-2019 at the National Postdoctoral Association (US) by the conjoint Inter-regional Directors’ Board of the Asia-Oceania Postdoctoral Academia and Saarc-Asean Postdoc Academia in 2018.

Emphasizing the issue, Dr. Khan re-considered the thematic baseline note of SAIRI’s P.I. Prof AZ Hafi, that: “an unfair and disproportionate toxic burden was being imposed by the sewage outlets of the urban areas where mostly the poor populations were residing. As a result, the soil and subsoil water reservoirs become unable to shield against the burdens of both the inorganic and organic waste toxicities”.

Dr. Khalida perceives the Sheikhupura model structure plan as a huge practical step toward the implementation of the Hydro-de-tox initiative.

Furthermore, Dr. Khan added that Homayoun Akhtar Choudhry was strongly committed to increasing the precautionary measures against the harmful phenomenon of subsoil hydro toxicity in urban areas of Pakistan. He wished to develop the SAIRI’s Hydro-de-tox initiative in all major urban centers of the country.

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