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Housing policy shortly: Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Housing Minister Abbas Sarfraz Khan has said the government will soon formulate a National Housing Policy to solve the residential problems of the people.

Talking to APP here, the Minister said that contractors, investors and buyers will get legal cover in order to protect their rights. The housing projects, under the new policy will be executed by the Private sector. Work on the policy would be initiated after Eid, he added.

The Minister said the present government attaches highest priority to the housing sector, and wants to resolve the housing problems of the people on priority.

Sarfraz said the Ministry has completed its report on 42 housing projects which were undertaken by the previous government in the name of "Mera Ghar scheme."

The projects are being reviewed and the Cabinet would take the decision on them after Eid. The Ministry has worked out various suggestions to make the projects commercially viable.

Abbas said, "I have directed the authorities to release the bid bonds of the contractors who have invested in the projects to provide them financial relief."

The contractors have already been assured that government will honour the agreements signed during the previous government, he added.

To a question about the delay in development of sector D-12 and E-12, he said "he has taken serious note of the long delay in development of plots in both the sectors and directed the Capital Development Authority to undertake development work within three months.

He said work on Phase-II of the Federal Government Employees Foundation in sector D-12 and E-12 would be immediately started to handover the plots to the allottees.

To another question about opening of new sectors in the Capital, he said the decision would be taken after completion of D-12 and E-12.

The poor allottees, most of them having retired were still waiting for possession of their plots in both the sectors, he said and added that a committee has also been constituted under him to review progress of development work on monthly basis. APP