Army offers to assist govt on PM’s Housing plan

[RangeMaster]

Published: September 28, 2018
308SHARES
SHARE TWEET EMAIL

Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa meets Imran Khan at PM secretariat. PHOTO: PID
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE

By Danish Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army offered on Thursday to assist the federal government in implementing its ambitious Prime Minister’s Housing Programme aimed at building five million residential units for lower- and middle-income segments of society.

The offer was made during a meeting of the taskforce on housing chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan here.

Army’s representatives gave a detailed presentation to the PM and members of the taskforce on its experience in building low-cost housing units for its personnel.

“Lt-Gen Moazzam Ajaz, the Quarter-Master General, made a detailed presentation on army’s experience in catering to housing needs of its personnel. He also offered Army’s … assistance in implementing the five million housing project,” read a statement issued by the PM office after the meeting.

The PM, it was decided, would formally launch this project in the first half of next month and the process of registration would also commence soon after the project’s launch.

The meeting was informed that an apex body would be created to ensure the project’s seamless execution.

NBP keen to offer subsidised loans for PM’s low-cost housing scheme

The Prime Minister said that besides utilizing expertise of both the public and the private sectors, successful financial models, including that of Akhuwwat, would be replicated to ensure success and affordability.

The Prime Minister directed the task force to quickly finalise the plan in this regard, including a legislative framework for consideration by the provincial and the federal governments.

The PM was informed that a comprehensive housing policy framework was being developed for offering one-window solution to local as well as foreign investors.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Punjab’s housing minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, MNA Najeeb Haroon, Quarter-Master General (QMG) Lt-Gen Moazzam Ajaz, DG Army (Lands) Maj-General Naveed Safdar, Secretary Housing Dr Imran Zeb Khan and Saleem Ranjha of the Akhuwwat Foundation.

PM appoints parliamentary secretaries

Also on Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the appointment of 15 MNAs, including nine women lawmakers as parliamentary secretaries for various ministries and divisions.

All of these nine women PTI legislators were elected to the National Assembly on reserved seats.

Andleeb Abbas was appointed as the parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, Aliya Hamza Malik for Textile, Tashfeen Safdar for Housing and Works, Javaria Zafar Aheer for Information and Broadcasting, Rukhsana Naveed for Climate Change, Rubina Jamil for Defence Production, Nausheen Hamid for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Wajiha Akram for Federal Education and Professional Training and Shahdana Gulzar Khan for Commerce.

Mukhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, the son of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was appointed as the parliamentary secretary for Finance, Lal Chand for Human Rights, Jamil Ahmed Khan for Maritime Affairs, Raja Riaz Ahmed for Petroleum, Farrukh Habib for Railways, and Zahoor Hussain Qureshi for Power.

The ministry of parliamentary affairs issued a notification for these appointments following the Prime Minister’s approval.

 

[Maxpane]

Not army sorry

 

[PakSword]

Ppp ke roti kapra aur makaan ke naaray main se makaan tou nikal gaya... Abb roti aur Kapra in shaa Allah 5 million jobs se mukammal hojaega

 

[Imran Khan]

Bhai theka DHA ko de do kam khatam karo

 

[Major Sam]

Army should stay out of it.

 

[Jinn Baba]

Lol this is something the Pakistan army is the best at in the whole world

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Army should stay out of it.

Any reason? The army is like any other organ of the state subject to being used in advancing strategic national interests. And building 5 million housing units for the poor calls for war footing or does Pakistan want Indian style slumdog towns everywhere?

In America the US Army Corp of Engineers is regularly used for instance in flood control works etc and keeping Missisipi River tamed.

 

[Path-Finder]

Any reason? The army is like any other organ of the state subject to being used in advancing strategic national interests. And building 5 million housing units for the poor calls for war footing or does Pakistan want Indian style slumdog towns everywhere?

In America the US Army Corp of Engineers is regularly used for instance in flood control works etc and keeping Missisip River tamed.

Roman legions did construction apart from fighting and its not limited to them through out history militaries have taken part in the construction of their nation. Its only recently we have seen construction companies under the guise of capitalist venture ripping people off. Not offering any affordable housing to the public.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Roman legions did construction apart from fighting and its not limited to them through out history militaries have taken part in the construction of their nation. Its only recently we have seen construction companies under the guise of capitalist venture ripping people off. Not offering any affordable housing to the public.

Yes, very true. Pakistan Army is very large with what over 600,000 personnel. The army of course houses these men and will have expierance in building and servicing large but cheap housing units. That experiance can be used to build huge public estates for the poor.

As you know in UK we have in every city council states which of course are public housing for the disadvantaged. Again as you will know the are not nice but still better than having your 25% bottom of society living like Indian slumdogs.

 

[Major Sam]

Yes, very true. Pakistan Army is very large with what over 600,000 personnel. The army of course houses these men and will have expierance in building and servicing large but cheap housing units. That experiance can be used to build huge public estates for the poor.

As you know in UK we have in every city council states which of course are public housing for the disadvantaged. Again as you will know the are not nice but still better than having your 25% bottom of society living like Indian slumdogs.

then phr her jaga army ko dal lo. civilian ne to kuch krna ni. ye wahid mulak ha jaha army ko kehtay k bhai sahab tusi kr davo.

 

[Path-Finder]

Yes, very true. Pakistan Army is very large with what over 600,000 personnel. The army of course houses these men and will have expierance in building and servicing large but cheap housing units. That experiance can be used to build huge public estates for the poor.

As you know in UK we have in every city council states which of course are public housing for the disadvantaged. Again as you will know the are not nice but still better than having your 25% bottom of society living like Indian slumdogs.

Roof over your head is a right. Private sector has failed and its criminal land grabbing enterprise aligned with political parties, Bahria Town with Zardari for example offering nothing but overpriced housing for the elite.

Yes We dont need slums. #NoSlumsInPak

 

[Major Sam]

Any reason? The army is like any other organ of the state subject to being used in advancing strategic national interests. And building 5 million housing units for the poor calls for war footing or does Pakistan want Indian style slumdog towns everywhere?

In America the US Army Corp of Engineers is regularly used for instance in flood control works etc and keeping Missisipi River tamed.

Army is already over stretched and they should focus on counrter terrorism and defence side for now. we have enough companies to manage this construction. As everyone knows there is nothing transparent here.

 

[HRK]

Any reason?

1- A comprehensive housing policy is needed not just adhoc measures
2- Housing is one sector which is bound to go in controversy Army should stay out of it
3- Finance will be the main issue this project will face and to resolve this Banking and private sector are required to contribute, I don't see any role of Army in this other than retired army personals (of lower cadre) who also face housing issue after retirement so If Army is coming up with some financial guarantee to secure some share for that segment of market I don't see any reason for them to participate
4- Involvement of Army will unnecessarily increase competition for the private sector firms in fact will discourage private sector

 

[Indus Pakistan]

As everyone knows there is nothing transparent here.

That is very true. No country on earth has zero corruption. In any large project [including in UK] dodgy deals will take place. Shady transactions will play but that is no reason for not to engage in large projects. Pakistan Army is not overstretched and if it is god help it in war with India. We don't accept line infantry or armoured corps to pitch in building houses. I was thinking of army engineering and quartermaster to share experiance. The private sector in Pakistan is not large enough and is too fragmented. The larger concerns only deal with housing for rich.

1- A comprehensive housing policy is needed not just adhoc measures
2- Housing is one sector which is bound to go in controversy Army should stay out of it
3- Finance will be the main issue this project will face and to resolve this Banking and private sector are required to contribute, I don't see any role of Army in this other than retired army personals (of lower cadre) who also face housing issue after retirement so If Army is coming up with some financial guarantee to secure some share for that segment of market I don't see any reason for them to participate
4- Involvement of Army will unnecessarily increase competition for the private sector firms in fact will discourage private sector

Oh okay. You guys will know more then me on conditions prevailing on the ground.

 

[HRK]

I can see the reason behind your jealousy, micro organisms *

P:S: this sanghi is a lair.

bhia why do you people quote the troll post .... and give reason for troll members to remain active on this forum .....