ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan says construction of low-cost andaffordable five million houses is foremost priority of the Government.

He was chairing a meeting on construction of low-cost and affordable housesin Islamabad today.

The Prime Minister said this would not only address housing issues of thepeople especially in the major cities but would also promote economicgrowth and create job opportunities.

He said simultaneously, we will have to devise a comprehensive mechanismfor regulating katchi-abaadis and slums without dislocating poor people andensuring provision of all civic amenities to them.

After a detailed discussion on various international models and road-mapsfor addressing the issue of housing, a committee was constituted underSecretary Housing and Works to devise a comprehensive and coherent plan ofaction.

The plan would be prepared in consultation with relevant experts andrepresentatives of concerned departments.

It will take into account all aspects including the legal framework,availability of the land bank and raising of required resources for smoothimplementation of the project.

The Committee would submit its initial recommendations to the PrimeMinister within one week.

Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasized that private sector should beencouraged and maximum facilitation be extended to those who would bepartnering with the Government in implementation of the programme.