-Says nation can’t prosper with ‘island of rich amidst sea of poor’
-Promises ‘revolution’ in Pakistan’s agriculture sector
-Claims his vision is to make powerful answerable to law
From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday assured the Punjab government to provide federal government’s all out support under Naya Pakistan Housing Program for low-cost housing projects in the province.
Chairing a meeting to review progress on construction of houses for low-income group during his visit here, the prime minister appreciated the project sites proposed by the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency.
State Minister for Information Farrukh Habib, Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, Punjab Housing Minister Mian Mahmood-ur-Rasheed, Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority Lt. General (Retd) Anwar Ali Haider and senior officers attended the meeting.
In the meeting, the proposals were presented for provision of subsidies to Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency, bank financing and support in provision of manpower.
The participants were also briefed in detail about the people’s housing needs, start of balloting process after Eid and participation of private sector in housing sector. It was told that an encouraging participation of private sector had been witnessed after the approval of housing rules by the Punjab government. He said the government was focusing on equitable distribution of resources to rich and poor by ensuring basic amenities of life for all.
“The notion of ‘elite capture’ and the prevailing mindset that Pakistan belongs to a particular class only is regrettable,” he said in his address at the launch of Punjab peri-urban housing project for low-income groups. Imran Khan said no nation could prosper with ‘an island of rich and a big sea of poor’ and regretted that during last 74 years, only a particular elite ruled the country. He said the elite-centric policies inflicted huge damage upon the poor whose access to civic facilities.
