ISLAMABAD: Construction of 5 million housing units for homeless Pakistanis can create job opportunities for 25 per cent of the unemployed youth of the country, Habib Rafiq Limited Chief Executive Officer Malik Muhammad Aslam said.
Talking to APP, he said that with the utilization of modern technology, a housing unit for a family of five persons could be constructed in Rs1.5 million.
He said that by vacating land allocated for government offices in all housing societies, the dream of cheap houses for the poor could be realised. He proposed that instead of imposing ban on launch of housing societies on agricultural land, law should be introduced for allocation of 10 per cent land of each unit for agricultural purpose.
Aslam said that foreign construction firms could be involved in joint venture housing projects with local firms which would also prove helpful in transfer of technology. He added that in Lithuania, people do not purchase fruits and vegetables from the market as 10 per cent land of housing units has been allocated for produce of fruits and vegetables.
“Introduction of a similar law in Pakistan could ensure provision of fresh fruits and vegetables for the residents of big cities,” he said, adding that as per law presently, one per cent land of each housing society in Pakistan is earmarked for public sector offices.
“However, this land is often occupied by land mafia and people involved in China cutting,” Aslam said. He added that if the government prepared a plan for taking possession of this land from all societies, it can be utilised for construction of housing units for low income groups.
He went on to say that in many parts of the world, housing projects had been launched on prefabricated built in technology and this technology can also be used in Pakistan to provide shelter to low income groups.
