Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the authorities to immediately start work on the housing projects for the poor and low-income groups.
He was chairing a meeting in Islamabad yesterday to review progress on a range of projects, including the Ravi Urban Development, the Central Business District, the relocation of Walton airport, and a project to provide low-cost housing to the people in Punjab.
The prime minister directed that timelines should be set for completion of low-cost housing.
The meeting was informed that low-cost houses of 3-5 marla will initially be in the 25-27 districts of Punjab, and later be expanded to 87 locations.
In the initial phase, the Punjab government will provide land and capital for the project.
Regarding the Ravi Urban Development Project, Prime Minister Khan said that this is of immense importance for the socio-economic development of the people of Lahore.
He said that this will not only create economic activities but also provide job opportunities to the people.
The meeting was informed that matters pertaining to the design of Ravi city project have reached the final stage.
It was informed that steps are being taken to hold an investors conference.
The meeting was also informed about the progress made so far for the acquisition of land for the project.
Regarding the Central Business District Project and relocation of Walton airport, the meeting was informed that the commercial, retail and residential zoning of the projects is being done as per the international standards.
Prime Minister Khan has also directed the ministries concerned to take steps to ensure uninterrupted supply of food at reduced prices during upcoming month of Ramadan.
Chairing a meeting to review prices of commodities, particularly wheat and sugar, the prime minister instructed that the availability and price reduction of daily use items are ensured.
Federal ministers Khusro Bakhtiar, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Shibli Faraz, Ali Haider Zaidi, Syed Fakhar Imam, Ali Amin Gandapur, Adviser Dr Ishrat Hussain, Special Advisers to the Prime Minister Usman Dar and Dr Sania Nishtar, the Utility Stores Corporation managing director, and senior officers attended the meeting.
Punjab Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister Dr Salman Shah, and provincial chief secretaries joined the meeting through video link.
Prime Minister Khan also ordered he be kept updated regularly regarding the monitoring of the price of edibles and their availability till Ramadan.
The finance minister, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, told the meeting that according to Sensitive Price Indicators over the past seven weeks, the prices of onion, tomato and chicken had been on a downward trend.
The price of vegetable oil will also decrease within the next few weeks, he added.
The meeting was also apprised of the measures for the release of wheat stocks and the impact of the Economic Co-ordination Committee’s decision on the price of sugar.
The meeting participants were briefed on the prediction of wheat production in the coming year, and preparation of its import.
The meeting was was told that government’s decision on wheat import helped stabilise its price.
The meeting emphasised that the focus on the enhancement of yield is to reduce prices of wheat and sugar.
Prime Minister Khan also directed for the formulation of a comprehensive strategy to enhance production in accordance with population growth, to make the country self-sufficient as well as to reduce the import bill.
Prime Minister Khan: timelines should be set for completion of low-cost housing.
