Daily Times

The government has released a sum of Rs 63,978.216 million for various water resource projects under annual Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for fiscal year 2020-21 so far.

According to the data of the Planning Commission, an amount of Rs 79,380.563 million was allocated for various water resource sectors in the current fiscal year. Out of total allocation, the domestic share was Rs 65,882.563 million while foreign component was estimated as 13,498 million.

An amount of Rs 52,706.050 million was released from domestic share while Rs 11,272.166 million was received under foreign component so far.

An amount of Rs 16,000 million has been allocated for Diamer Basha Dam (Dam Part), Rs 5,000 million for Diamer Basha dam Project (Land Acquisition and Re-settlement), Rs 1,443.324 million for Balochistan Effluent Disposal into RBOD.

Similarly an amount of Rs 1,968 million allocated for the construction of Basool dam, Rs 1,797 million for the construction of Mangi dam, Rs 2000 million for construction of small storage dams (Sindh), Rs 1500 million for the construction of 100 small dams in Balochistan, Rs 1,356.346 million for Darwat dam and Rs. 2000 million for Garuk Storage dam.

A sum of Rs 7,000 million has been earmarked for Mohmand dam, Rs 3000 million for Nai Gaj Dam, Rs 2,500 million for Naulong Storage dam, Rs 1,500 million for Normal/Emergent Flood Programme and Rs 3000 million for construction of Winder dam.

Similarly, Rs 2000 million has been allocated for Kachhi Canal Project (Remaining Works), Rs 500 million for the construction of 100 dams in Balochistan and Rs 30 million for construction of the Delay Action dam at Zarkhune (Quetta).

Naya Pakistan Housing Project

Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Vice Chairman S M Imran said the LDA would build 4000 apartments near Halloki to provide affordable homes to the people with meagre resources under an easy installment plan.

In an interview with APP here on Sunday, he said the 4000 apartments were the first brick in the edifice of 5 million homes under Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Naya Pakistan Housing Project on 8500 kanals land around Halloki, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan would inaugurate the project next week.

Elaborating on the 4000 apartments project of the LDA, SM Imran said the project was meant to provide a home to a common man and it would cost very less, adding that the LDA had called for tenders.

The LDA Vice Chairman said the joint venture of LDA and Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) would be funded by banks as per the State Bank of Pakistan policy on Islamic banking, adding that the installment plan would consist of 10-20 years.

To a question, he said an apartment would cost approximately Rs 2.7 million and an allottee would have to pay mere Rs 270,000 initially but Rs 300,000 subsidy from the NAPHDA would make the initial payment Rs 570,000.

“The installment will start after the owner is given possession of the apartment which means the allottee will not pay anything during the first 18 months of construction work”, he elaborated.

He said, preference would be given to the applicants who applied with NAPHDA for homes some months ago, adding that small installments would enable people own a home of their own instead of living on rent and making the landlords richer every month.

“A 650 square feet apartment will have 2 rooms with an attached and a detached bathroom, kitchen, small lounge and a balcony while the master plan will ensure that an apartment building its own park, walkways, sewerage, treatment plants and grid-stations to meet all features of a modern community”, he elaborated.

To further ensure transparency and avoid political victimization against the project, Vice Chairman LDA S M Imran said the LDA had decided to open an escrow account for the project, adding that escrow accounts was opened for a specific purpose and its funds cannot be used for any other purpose.

SM Imran a quota has been fixed for journalists and lawyers besides the government employees, adding that main share in apartments would be of the public at large.

The LDA Vice Chairman said the 4000 apartments would lay the foundation of many other such projects to follow, adding that the government was committed to provide the masses with homes of their own.