It will be constructed on the pattern of the hospital the UAE has already built in Azad Kashmir capital Muzaffarabad in the wake of October 2005 devastating earthquake. The hospital in Islamabad would be bigger in capacity and equipped with latest and most sophisticated instruments.

The UAE Ambassador in Pakistan Ali Saif Sultan Al-Awani said that Prime Minister Gilani inaugurated Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Hospital constructed with the cooperation of UAE at the cost of Rs2.24 billion early this month. The hospital having modern facilities has been constructed at the site of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) that was destroyed during the October 8, 2005 earthquake and reflects the deep Pakistan-UAE brotherly relations, the envoy said.

Prime Minister Gilani appreciated the provision of best possible facilities and equipment provided at the hospital and said that the people of the area and Pakistan will always remember this remarkable gesture.

The 250-bed Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Hospital has been designed, built and equipped by Department of Municipal Affairs, Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, and is spread over an area of approximately 70,000 square meters. The project has been designed according to International standards and special care has been taken to provide environment friendly facilities.

“A Chinese firm has shown interest to invest in the housing sector and we have offered them to construct 5,000 to 8,000 flats for private sector in Islamabad and four provincial capital,” Federal Secretary Housing and Works Ahmad Baksh Lehri told ‘The News’. The officials said private people would own the flats, but the federal government employees could hire these accommodations according to their ceilings.

The official said it was not possible for the ministry to allot government residences to all government employees. There are over 17,500 government accommodations against employees’ strength of over 400,000.

Lehri said during recent meetings of the parliament’s standing committee, the ministry had suggested that the ceiling of federal government employees should be raised so that they could easily hire a private accommodation in Islamabad and or other cities wherever they are posted.

However, he said immediately, the construction of new government residences were not under consideration due to non-availability of land and financial constraints.

The housing secretary, who enjoys rich experience in housing sector as director general Gawadar Development Authority (GDA), said another solution to meet housing shortage could be low-cost housing schemes saying the same experience had been very successful in Gawadar.

Dubai building half-mile-High Skyscraper .When it is completed, the $4 billion Burj Dubai skycraper will be the tallest building in the world. Built by South Korea’s Samsung Construction, the tower is expected to open later this year

Gadap Town Municipal Officer (TMO), Gul Hassan Kalmati told The News that the dams construction project has been approved by Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Qaim Ali Shah on the request of the Gadap Town Nazim. The CM issued directives to the secretary of the irrigation department, who has assured that the project would be initiated soon after a feasibility survey is conducted.

Kalmati said that the cost and capacity of the dams would vary, depending upon their location. The Town official told The News that the provision of water is the main problem for the communities living at far off areas, and hoped that the dams would provide water to the communities for domestic need and would facilitate small growers and herders. He said that these projects would aid the process of recharging wells and underground water as well.

Once the most prosperous area for farmers and herders, Gadap Town is now beset with numerous problems. The area used to contribute enough stock of vegetables and fruits to the markets of Karachi. After the excavation of gravel for construction purposes, the land gradually lost its fertility, compelling herders and farmers to migrate to other areas.

The TMO said that the irrigation department had already launched work to build two dams prior to this project. After the construction of 16 dams, he said, around 75 per cent of the town’s population would have access to safe drinking water. Out of these 16 dams, four will be built in Moidan Union Council, the most remote mountainous area, along the Hub River near the Sindh-Balochistan border. These four dams in Moidan will benefit the dwellers of all 75 small and scattered villages surrounding the area.

Residents of Moidan meanwhile told The News that there is a popular saying in the neighbourhood, saying that “in Moidan every thing can be borrowed except water.” They said that that since underground water is contaminated in the entire area, they have to fetch water from far-off areas.

Another problem pointed out by Kalmati was that as a result of the activities of land grabbers, new villages had been built and the local communities had been disturbed. He said that the Gadap Town Nazim, after consultation with the local communities, has suggested to the provincial government that the process of village regularisation be made transparent, especially in the suburbs of Karachi.

The Gadap Town official said despite the government’s assurances, residents of several far-off villages have still not got lease documents, and people feel unsafe there as the land grabbers continue to occupy the land. The residents of Karachi suburbs had expected more from the current government in terms of development. However, little uplift activity has left many annoyed with legislators, he added.

Aden Green Animated walkthrough of a Housing Project.

JI Karachi chief Mohammad Hussain Mehanti made this demand in a statement after a representative delegation of the society met JI office-bearers at the party’s Karachi office.

The delegates informed the JI office-bearers that the society was leased out since 1972. They said that the residents had proper legal documents and the Karachi Development Authority and the Cantonment Board had also approved this society.

They said land grabbers have grabbed the land of the society by use of force. They further said that the Cantonment Board’s officials had demolished the illegal walls erected in the society by land grabbers.

The KESC society residents complained that the police have taken no action against the culprits despite their complaints. They said that no case was registered so far because the police was under pressure from influential figures.

Mohammad Hussain Mehanti assured the delegation that he would contact the chief minister and asked him to play his due role to solve this problem.

Administrator DHA Brig Khalid Tirmizi was informed about the plan on Friday during a visit to the offices of the newly established DHA Services Department at Khayaban-e-Shujaat, Phase-VIII. The administrator appreciated the efforts being initiated by the DHA Services Department for the convenience of the area residents.

Director DHA Services Major (retd) Abdul Ghani Tabish said that the DHA Services Department was providing event management services envisaging centralised booking and arrangements for a function at any DHA Club venue through one window operation.

A couple of years ago, the CDA upgraded its Anti-Encroachment Directorate to Enforcement Directorate giving it additional manpower and equipment to control land grab.

“Presently, we have 443 officials and almost 22 heavy vehicles at our disposal,” said

Enforcement Director Capt ® Faiz Ahmed. He said teams had been constituted to keep strict vigilance on the construction activities on CDA’s land.

Sources said about a dozen housing societies were operating illegally without NOC from the CDA in Zone-IV and V and were fleecing thousands of people, who had invested millions of rupees in pursuit of a dream for a house in the federal capital.

In his detailed presentation, Asadullah Faiz, a former director of Anti-Encroachment Directorate, had informed a meeting that vast tracts of CDA land had been grabbed by land mafia.

He said several housing schemes were operating along Korang Nullah on occupied land cutting into a major portion of the nullah. “A housing scheme has even constructed a bridge over the nullah as it has grabbed land on its both sides,” he said.

The land mafia is selling out CDA land to innocent people impressing them though huge advertisements and attractive broachers.

CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Ellahi has time and again stressed the authorities concerned to focus on generating new income resources instead of selling valuable land.

“We should save our land assets for rainy days as land selling is not a permanent income generation source. We should come up with creative ideas and sign joint ventures with local as well as multinational firms in real estate and housing sectors,” said Ellahi in his maiden meeting with the CDA Board.

According to the director enforcement, the authority has stopped construction activity of 11 housing schemes operating illegally in Zone-IV and V and formed special teams to keep an eye on illegal construction activities.

A senior CDA official said the authority needed huge manpower and latest facilities to check encroachments.

He said the situation worsened when the land grabbers moved to court against CDA’s anti-encroachment drives. He said a mega anti-encroachment drive is on cards to clear Faizabad

and Pirwadhai. In the first phase, the force would remove stalls and unauthorized parking lots and then permanent illegal structures

PHA-Maymar (A Joint Venture Company (Pvt) Limited)
Pakistan Housing Authority, (PHA) Ministry of Housing & Works while pursuing the Prime Minister’s Housing Program developed a unique model of Public-Private partnership

in which there is no financial liability on the part of the government / PHA whereas the developer has to develop the housing units on its own land with its own investment. Based on this, PHA has signed a MOU with Maymar Housing Services (Pvt) Ltd. (Maymar) and after following all the laid down procedure, a Joint Venture agreement was drafted & submitted for legal vetting by Ministry of law.

After completion of vetting procedure, the Joint Venture agreement was signed on July 16th, 2009 between the President of Pakistan through PHA & Maymar to develop, construct and sell 8000 apartments under PM’s housing program in 4 Phases.

The concept of JV agreement is that Maymar will provide land, construct and execute the project with its own funds. Whereas, PHA will extend its name & patronage besides providing clientele in shape of government employees. In pursuance to this agreement a Joint Venture company has been in-corporate with Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) under Companies Ordinance 1984 with the name PHA-Maymar Joint Venture Company (Pvt) Limited, (PHA-Maymar) to oversee and monitor the progress of works and allow the disbursement of funds for escrow account. The JV company has Board of Directors comprising of 7 directors with 3 directors each from PHA and Maymar and one director from Ministry of Housing & Works, however, the Chief Executive will be appointed by the board of directors of PHA-Maymar.

PHA-Maymar is undertaking first phase of its project in Gulshan-e-Maymar Karachi comprising 1867 flats and 204 shops with exclusive parking facilities for each apartment. The types of apartment & their sizes are as follows:-

Type D 810 sq.ft. (2 bed rooms with attached bath, lounge)
Type C 1133 sq.ft. (2 bedrooms with attached bath, drawing / dinning & lounge)

According to the drive launched under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), a sizeable amount of Rs300,000 will be given to a family in the form of loan instead of providing small sums in many installments. The programme will pick 731 families each month from the lowest income group and the loan given will be repayable in small monthly installments over a period of 12 to 15 years.

Unlike short-sighted programmes and schemes of pervious governments, this will help ensure long-term development and change in the condition of the underprivileged.

However, while the government has done commendable efforts for poverty alleviation by announcing the Benazir Income Support Programme worth Rs70 billion, the question persists how this money will be distributed. Identification of the poorest and allocation of funds is the most crucial issue for doling out the aid properly to the deprived.

Not just in Pakistan but in all developing countries the distribution of such relief aid is the biggest issue as it usually falls prey to corruption, nepotism and disorganised government policies.

According to the government plan, the deserving people will be selected through a computerised process with data help from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). However, social experts say in Pakistan there is a considerable population among the poor, who do not even have identity cards and have no idea of a bank account and the hectic procedures involved.

“Who will give guarantee of a person who doesn’t even have an identity card for opening a bank account,” said Fateh Mohammad Burfat, professor and expert in sociology. “These are the people who are deprived of the very basic necessities and privileges of life and need this aid the most.

“Last time when President Musharraf announced the Food Support Programme to give Rs1,000 per month to the deserving families, the process turned out to be too unfamiliar for them. Either they did not have any identity cards or most of their funds were cut in the procedure of obtaining these,” professor Burfat said.

“I interviewed 2,000 beneficiaries of the fund myself and found out that it has had zero impact. The families were left with about Rs600 which supported them only for a day or two,” he added.

For a programme for people living below the poverty line, the government needs to devise methods and policies which are easy and facilitating. The government should first of all develop a system, start registering people and then nominate good and honest persons from the grass roots for fund distribution.

“This is because now people have lost trust in government representatives like the DCO, DPO and others,” said professor Burfat. “The government should make teams and committees comprising local people like judges, journalists and university students.” Taking representatives of union councillors or administrators from the same locality, he added, would also help identify the real people in need of aid.

Besides, the government claims under the Waseela-e-Haq programme loan will be given to the woman head of the family for women emancipation, and the amount can be used only for buying vehicles.

This idea is not viable, some social experts believe, though many people who drive rented rickshaws, taxies and tractors will benefit from the scheme. Yet the government should have also provided other platforms for these people to start businesses with some sort of vocational training or professional aid for long-term facilitation.

KARACHI: Rana Mehmood-ul-Hassan, Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Ports and shipping, in his recommendations has said a disputed land of the Karachi Port Trust should be included in Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Park.

Speaking in a meeting at the KPT on Friday, he said there were various pieces of KPT land, which were encroached upon and several cases were pending in courts. The recent dispute over KPT land, a marriage lawn spread over three acres, should be dedicated to Shaheed Benazir Park for her struggle for the democracy and sacrifices for the country.

The NA committee said the police should seal the land under Section 145 until the matter was resoled by the court.

All stakeholders were present in the meeting including representatives of the KPT, the Board of Revenue and the ports and shipping. It was decided that another meeting would be held which would review all port-related issues and invite all business chambers.

The chairman said there were a lot of complaints about the Port Qasim Authority regarding theft of different commodities including sugar, canola oil, etc from ships. It showed involvement of everyone from top to bottom, he said.

He said there was lack of coordination between the Sindh government and the KPT, due to which land mafia had become active and was seizing land.

Standing committee members Khawaja Sohail Mansoor, Nasir Ali Shah, Fauzia Wahab and Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar attended the meeting.

Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has been initiated by Government of Pakistan with initial allocation of Rs.34 billion (US $ 425 million approximately) for the year 2008-09 which is the third largest allocation in the total budget and is 0.3% of the GDP for the year 2008-09. The Programme has been initiated to partially offset the impact of inflation on the purchasing power of the poorer sections of the society. In the years 2005-07, inflation stood at almost 10% with food inflation in the range of 13-15%. In the year 2007-08 sharp rise in oil prices and primary products in the international as well as domestic market resulted in double digit inflation rate, which has almost halved the purchasing power of the people. Hence there is urgent need for direct and speedy relief to the poor sections of the society and BISP is the response to the above compulsions. The Programme is aimed at covering almost 15% of the entire population, which constitutes 40% of the population below the poverty line. A monthly payment of Rs.1000/ per family would increase the income of a family earning Rs.5000 by 20%. BISP will cover all four provinces including FATA, AJK, FANA & ICT. Husband, wife and dependent children constitute a family.

Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program: MS Farzana Raja
Beneficiary Eligibility Criteria :
The following categories of families are eligible:
a) Possession of CNIC by female applicant/ recipient.
b) Monthly family income is less than Rs.6000/.
And subject to conditions (a) and (b).
c) Widowed/ divorced women, without adult male members in the family.
d) Any physically or mentally retarded person(s) in the family.
e) Any family member suffering from a chronic disease.
Ineligibility Criteria:
The following families are ineligible to receive any assistance under the Programme:
a) Where any of the members of the family is in employment of government/ semi-government/
authority/ department or armed forces of Pakistan.
b) Where any of the members of the family is drawing pension from government/semi
government/authority/department or armed forces of Pakistan.
c) Where any of the members of the family is receiving any post-retirement benefits from any
government department/ agency.
d) Where any of the members of the family owns an agriculture land more than three acres or
residential house/ plot of more than eighty square yards (3 marlas).
e) Where any member of the family is receiving income support from any other source like Punjab
Food Support Scheme etc.
f) Where any member of the family possesses a Machine Readable Passport.
g) Where any member of the family possesses a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis
(NICOP).
h) Where any member of the family has a Bank Account (except in NBP, HBL, UBL, MCB, ABL,
BOP, Bolan Bank, Khyber Bank, First Women Bank, ZTBL, Khushhali Bank, and all microfinance
banks).

Benazir Income Support Programme

Ataturk Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad.

Tel: +92-51-9215318

Fax: +92-51-9215323

E-mail: bisp.islamabad@gmail.com

Under the programme, 731 families selected through a monthly draw, will get Rs 300,000 each to start some self-employment project. The BISP currently has 2.2 million beneficiaries which are divided in 731 clusters of 3000 families each.

Addressing the ceremony, President Zardari termed the scheme a "dream come true" of the concept given by Benazir Bhutto and hailed the role of the Prime Minister and his team to fulfil the desire of late PPP chairperson to empower women. He said the government would pursue the vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who always struggled for the rights of women in the country.

He said under the scheme, funds would be provided to give economic empowerment to the poorest women to help them support their families. The President said the government would soon bring more similar programmes to overcome the menace of poverty, generate economic activity and increase employment opportunities.

He asked Prime Minister Gilani to consider an option floated by the PPP think tanks of providing duty-free facility to the families to purchase products such as tractors or rickshaw or any other thing that might help them increase their earnings.

He said the idea of ‘Waseela-e-Haq’ was to develop a sense of goodwill for the people of Pakistan by addressing their needs besides ensuring the survival of democracy. Earlier, President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani launched the computer ballot to randomly select 731 families who will get Rs 300,000 as interest-free loan that can be returned on easy monthly instalments.

Gilani terming the scheme achievement of "yet another milestone" towards fulfilment of the vision of Shaheeds Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said so far Rs 19 billion had been disbursed under the BISP. "The programme is a key pillar in our policy of rehabilitating the poor masses, getting them out of the cruel poverty cycle, and redirecting their energies towards nation building, through well-co-ordinated state interventions."

The Prime Minister said under the "transparent programme" there would be no political discrimination and cash relief be provided, which he hoped would also rejuvenate the nation by giving a message of hope. "The ‘Waseela-e-Haq’ will help thousands of families graduate out of the monthly subsistence and set up their own small businesses for a life of dignity and self respect."

is a classic extension of its parent project Aden Greens, and bundled with the same great luxuries of life that await you at just few kilometers away from Dream World Resort, Gulshan-e-Maymar. Aden Greens launch is an all time success and the trust our esteemed client reposed in Aden made it an icon of Karachi.

By the launch of Aden Greens, we vow to uphold the same vision of creating a difference in living standard but this time, with a remarkable additional value for your money. So come to learn and see how Aden Greens (Phase-1) empowers you with a unique set of plot ownership options unraveled by any other project in the vicinity, because its not about discounts or gifts, it’s a True Housing Relief for the people of Pakistan.

Aden Greens (Phase-1) Features

Mosque

A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The mosque serves as a place where Muslims can come together for salat (prayer)  as well as a center for information, education, and dispute settlement. To fullfill the pledge of offering five prayer on time, a mosque is included in our project..

School

A school is an institution designed to allow and encourage students to learn, under the supervision of teachers. We are committed to provide education in a caring and enlightened environment for new generation.

Commercial Area

A Commerical area offering truly modern ambience and amenities to satisfy your shopping needs is the hallmark of Aden Greens.e Centralized Security System Man is born free & it is his right to enjoy freedom, to cater this right of humankind we have a fully centralized security system in Aden Greens.

Centralized Security System

Security has to be compared and contrasted with other related concepts: Safety, continuity, reliability. Man is born free & it is his right to enjoy freedom, to cater this right of humankind we have a fully centralized security system in Aden Greens.

Parks & Playgrounds

A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment. Naturaly carved to soothe your lifestyle, lush green areas are on our main canvases.

Waterfalls & Lakes

A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff. A classic waterfall adds to the artistic charm of Aden Greens. Pleasant lake with greener outlines is an ideal place to nourish your flavor to nature.

Downloads

• Aden Greens Phase 1 Brochure
• Payment Schedule
• Payment Schedule (for Overseas Pakistanies)
• Location Map

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KARACHI: As the reports of bankruptcy and privatisation of the House Building and Finance Corporation (HBFC) in the National Assembly are making rounds, the country’s only institution for providing loans to low-income people for house building, the construction industry fears severe downslide in the industry.

The HBFC, reported to be facing a tough time for the last five years, has announced that a decision has been taken to privatise it, as its (the company’s) 56 per cent loans were not recovered causing a loss of over Rs6.25 billion.

However, builders assert that non-recovery of loans is no excuse for the privatisation of any institution and a body as significant as HBFC should have been given proper governance and attention as it was serving the basic need of providing shelter to the vast lower class population in the country.

“There were not enough policies planned to keep the organization upgraded and was left in the hands of neglect which ultimately resulted into this current state of collapse,” said Babar Mirza the Chairman of Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD).

Although the idea of giving 26 per cent shares of the company to the private sector is still a proposal, the stakeholders and people from the construction industry feel that any action as such would underline grave affects for the construction industry as well as the people who can not afford to take loans from the private sector banks and other financing institutions.

“Giving the shares to the private sector, no matter however little will make the company out of bounds for the low-income group for which the institution functioned to provide for,” said a builder.

The private sector financing institutions in Pakistan are proving loans on high interest rates, which the lower-income group cannot even dream of taking.

Besides, most of these have astringent policies both for attaining and recovery of their loans provided. HBFC thus, is the only state-owned entity providing affordable housing solutions to the non-affording class with socially responsible and commercially sustainable policies.

“HBFC was the only institution providing house building loans to the lower income group of the country who, as a matter of fact, 98 per cent of the banks in Pakistan do not provide for,” said Babar Mirza.

He said that the business of construction was crucially dependant on loans given to the middle and lower-middle class in the way that for people with no collateral assets and low income this was the only platform to achieve loans and back their house building.

Over the years HBFC has not only provided loans on flexible terms with low mark-up rates, and long periods of installments. But has also been very flexible and lenient in terms of recovery of the loans considering the low wage level of its clients. “In the suburbs, HBFC used to provide at least 40 per cent loan for home financing which used to be given to the client and not the builder,” added Babar Mirza. “This way the construction industry of the country was also benefiting as not just the rich but the poor too could think of making heavy investments in house building to improve their living,” added he.

In Karachi alone there are tens and thousands of people who live in Katchi abadis, people who do not have homes of their own and are in constant need of state support to improve their living conditions. There are also millions of those throughout the country who live in rented homes and can’t save enough capital to reserve for any future assets or home financing after meeting their monthly expenses.

Besides, also those who have succeeded to get low-income full time jobs and still do not earn enough to make their own homes are constantly dependant on government support from institutions as the HBFC.

While over the years since 1952 HBFC has provided loans and house building solutions to millions of people from the lower income strata, the current changes in the infrastructure and policies under privatization puts a question mark on the future performance of the institution for the underprivileged class. “With all the other government institutions slowly falling in the arms of privatization there are very few resources left to serve the lower and middle-class people who make most of the total population of the country,” retorted an upset builder.

Those of us who commute daily are now used to this hassle mainly because we cannot do anything about it except grumble and grouse, spoiling our own mood as well as that of those who have to listen to us!

Sadly we are lacking in the realisation that collective action can work wonders for such issues as citizen’s rights and only go for pressure tactics when political ones are the focus of attention.

Anyway, coming back to the barricades, one of the difficult areas to access is the one where the Royal Norwegian Embassy is located in Sector F/6. There are private houses as well as a school in this area and those who live here or attend the school are very upset about the situation and complain to the ambassador of Norway, Robert Kvile.

The soft spoken and understanding diplomat gets an earful of complaints on a regular basis asking him to do something about the situation and while he is sympathetic on the issue, he says he cannot do much about it because security concerns are dealt with by the local authorities and the concerned governments.

The fact of the matter is that he has a complaint of his own and that is against the CDA which allocates plots in the diplomatic enclave. He says the Norwegian Embassy has been asking for a plot in the diplomatic enclave for quite some time but they have not been given any as yet though repeated requests have been made. The funds are available and the embassy is ready to start construction as soon as the CDA authorities hand over a plot.

Ambassador Kvile says they will build as quickly as possible and move into their own premises — a long standing dream that is not about to be fulfilled soon because it appears that the CDA is dragging its feet over the allocation of a plot to build on — which may not be the right presumption and the authority is genuinely in a fix because no plots are available.

Driving through the enclave it can be noticed that many plots are lying vacant but these may already belong to country’s which are not ready to build as yet, so a time frame should be fixed and the plot re-allotted if the owners default. There was a grand plan to build another enclave in the foothills of the Margalla Hills, which has been shelved for some reason — maybe a lack of funds — but it would have solved the problem.

If the Norwegians move out from the premises they presently occupy it will not only make the other people living and working here very happy, it will mean that the security personnel who are doing guard duty will be free to be deployed elsewhere, maybe where they are needed more. There may be other embassies which are in the same predicament and while not all of them desire or can afford to build in the diplomatic enclave, those who do need to have their applications expedited so that local citizens are saved from the hassle of going through barricades wherever it is possible.

The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has written at least four letters to the Secretary Defence Ministry stating that it would be appreciated that the organisations under the administrative control of the Defence Ministry are directed to ensure strict compliance of Rules-8 & 9 of PP Rules, 2004 and furnish their proposed annual requirements of the financial year 2009 -10 for placing on Authority’s website at the earliest.

TIP has noted from DHA Islamabad website that it has awarded contracts worth billions of rupees to different contractors. According to the Rules as soon as a contract has been awarded the procuring agency shall make all documents related to the evaluation of the bid and award of contract public.

TIP, in its letter to Brigadier Javed Iqbal (Retd), Administrator, Defence Housing Authority, stated that on May 28, 2005 Emaar Properties PJSC, a UAE based company, signed an agreement with DHA Islamabad to form a Joint Venture company, for constructing and managing residential houses, commercial premises, bridges etc in DHA Islamabad.

On August 9, 2005, Meinhardt (Pakistan) pvt Ltd, entered into another agreement with DHA for providing consultancy services on development of Phase II Extension. It had to undertake to develop 4,000 acres of land “project” of Phase-II extension DHA Islamabad. The project was envisaged to be high class development comprising residential and commercial plots, public amenities like schools, colleges, parks, playgrounds, stadiums, sports complex, town halls, community centres, club houses, libraries, mosques, utility buildings and other ancillary facilities.

An agreement had been signed with HRL on 18th of May, 06 for the development of Phase I-Extension and earth breaking ceremony was on 6th June, 06. Total area to be developed by HRL is 1,500 acres in phase-1 extension. Habib Rafiq (pvt) Ltd has been committed for all the development work in phase-I, II including roads, parks etc. Habib Rafiq (pvt) Ltd has successfully completed other ambitious projects.

On September 1, 2009, DHA in collaboration with the Bahria Town and Habib Rafique Limited (HRL) launched a low-cost housing project ‘DHA Valley and DHA Valley Overseas Block’. Balloting for the project was held at the DHA Valley Expressway Phase II Extension. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, DHA Administrator Brigadier Javed Iqbal (Retd) said the project was designed for low-income people.

“We are determined to complete the project in time,” he added. He stated that the project would have all basic facilities of life like schools, parks and shopping centres. Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz said they had taken care of public. “An ordinary person can only dream to have luxuries of life, but we made it possible in the DHA Valley. We have taken care of the salaried class and they will be having all world-class residential facilities in the project. In this phase, we have developed 5- and 8-marla plots. More than 90,000 people, both in Pakistan and overseas, have registered with us through this project,” he said.

Malik Riaz assured the allottees that the project would be completed well before its time. The chief engineer of the project said the scheme would be a world-class residential experience. He said an American firm, OJMR-Los Angeles, has designed the project.

“We would like to remind you that as Director NAB Sindh, you and TI Pakistan worked tirelessly with NAB for transparent implementation of Public Procurement Rules 2004. We hope you will follow PPRA Rules 2004 in DHA Islamabad too, and change of posting from NAB to DHA has not affected your understanding,” the TIP reminded Administrator DHA.

pursuing the Prime Minister’s Housing Program developed a unique model of Public -Private partnership in which there is no financial liability on the part of the government / PHA whereas the developer has to develop the housing units on its own land with its own investment. Based on this PHA has signed an MOU with Maymar and after following all the laid down procedure, a JV agreement was drafted & submitted for legal vetting by Ministry of law.

After completion of vetting procedure the JV agreement was signed on July 16th, 2009 between government of Pakistan through PHA & Maymar to develop, construct and sell 8000 apartments under PM’s housing program in 4 Phases.

The concept of JV agreement is that Maymar will provide land, construct and execute the project with its own funds. Whereas, PHA will extend its name & patronage besides providing clientele in shape of government employees. In pursuance to this agreement a JV company has been in-corporate with SECP under company Ordinance 1984, to oversee and monitor the progress of works and allow the disbursement of fund for escrow account. The JV company has BOD comprising of 07 directors with 3 director each from PHA and Maymar and one director from ministry of housing & works however the chief executive will be appointed by the board of directors of PHA_Maymar JV COMPANY (PVT) LTD.

PHA- Maymar JV is undertaking first phase of its project in Gulshan-e-Maymar Karachi comprising 1867 flats and 204 shops with exclusive parking facilities for each apartment & the types of apartment. their sizes are as follows:-
Type D 810 sq.ft. (2 bed rooms with attached bath, lounge)
Type C 1150 sq.ft. (2 bedrooms with attached bath, drawing / dinning & lounge)
Type B 1 / B2 1510 sq.ft. (3 bedrooms with attached bath drawing / dinning & lounge)

Project will be completed in three & half year with complete civic amenities. The apartment would be available for allotment to Government Employees Including employees of provincial government, semi government, autonomous & semi autonomous bodies, uniform personnel etc as well as to general public on 50:50 basis. The important aspect is that a concept of cross subsidy is employed in the project to make house affordable for both government employee and general public.

A number of caterers who were providing services for staging marriages and other ceremonies in DHA for the last several years claimed that the setting up of ‘DHA Services’ in mid July has created adverse circumstances for local businesses, as they have been virtually debarred from the business arena. They claimed that without competition, function organisers in Defence would continue to be exploited with “compromised” quality of service and expensive rates of food, catering, and decoration services.

DHA Caterers and Decorators’ Association President Qais Sheikh said that before DHA Services came into existence, some 26 to 27 caterers had been actively working on the panel for seven DHA clubs. He said that about 10,000 people are directly employed by these caterers, while 50,000 people are indirectly associated with them through suppliers.

“The system has been reorganised in a manner that the function of event management in DHA has become a virtual monopoly for DHA Services. The service employs the assistance of only three caterers, and there is no business left for other caterers in the area,” he said.

He said that the present situation puts a serious question mark over direct and indirect employment of thousands of people associated with the catering business, adding that the setting up of the DHA Services has led to the cost of rent of halls and lawns in DHA clubs to double. Furthermore, the prices of food services for wedding functions have also increased. For example, he said, the standard menu comprising rice, Salan, Nan/Taftan, as well as decoration for such functions has increased from Rs300 to Rs550 per person. Also, a person arranging a wedding function for 600 people through DHA Services has been paying Rs200,000 or more on average for catering and decoration services.

“The system of organising wedding functions in DHA has been reorganised in a manner that in order to arrange an event, one has to go to one of the DHA clubs in the area, which makes it compulsorily to use the DHA Services,” he claimed.

He maintained that the collective daily capacity of all DHA clubs for holding functions is 15,000, and a mere three caterers cannot possibly be able to fulfill the requirements of the business in a wedding season.

Association of Defense Residents (ADR) Honorary General Sectary Asad Kizilbash told The News that any decision and policy which minimises competition in a services sector would surely hurt the interests of the end-users or customers. Similar is the case for catering and event management services as far as the DHA area is concerned. “People need the best quality of services and at the lowest possible costs. In the case of event management services in DHA, most end-users of the service would be residents of the area, whose interests would be compromised when there would be no or little competition among the service providers”.

DHA Services Director Major (retd) Abdul Ghani Tabish however maintained that DHA was open for negotiations with anybody who felt deprived of running their businesses due to the revised event management policy for DHA clubs.

“After Ramazan, when the season for marriage functions would once again start, we will think about expanding the number of caterers on the panel of DHA clubs”, he said.

Major (retd) Tabish said that there is no such thing as monopolising the business or minimising competition in the catering service, as previously the clients had to contact the secretary of the DHA club of their choice for holding the event. Now however, he said, the office of the DHA services is the sole responsible organisation, and customers would be able to avail all services under one roof.

According to Major (retd) Tabish, the caterers were previously only sharing just the rent of the hall or lawn of the clubs with the club administrations, and pocketing the rest of the amount received from the clients. “We have also revised the whole system of event management with the sole purpose of saving DHA clubs from further financial loss,” he said, adding that the system has been redesigned in a manner that the clubs would get the economic benefit at par with the caterers. Moreover, denied any recent increase in rents of halls and lawns of the DHA clubs.

Meanwhile, President Caterers and Decorators’ Association DHA said that meeting with the DHA Services Director Major (retd) Tabish on August 27 had given him hope that ultimately DHA Services would go for increasing the number of caterers as panelists for the DHA clubs.

The Housing Foundation has launched the following Housing schemes since its inception:
PAST SCHEMES

Phase-I Islamabad (Sectors I-8 & G-11)
Phase-I of the housing scheme was launched in 1988. It comprises of 1791 plots. Initially 1595 houses were constructed and handed over to eligible applicants on ownership basis but 196 houses could not be constructed due to dispute of land. However, after clearance of disputes those plots have also been handed over to the allottees.

Phase-I Extension Islamabad (Sector I-8)

In Phase-I Extension, 1226 plots of different categories were handed over to allottees on merit.

Special Allocation Islamabad (Sectors D-12, E-12, I-8, G-10 & G-11)

The CDA allocated 481 plots of different categories to Housing Foundation in 1996 which were allotted to officers/ officials of the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Prime Minister’s Secretariat and others under the direction of the competent authority. All plots stand handed over to the allotees.

PRESENT SCHEMES

Phase-II Islamabad (Sectors D-12, E-12, I-8 and G-11)
Phase-II of the housing scheme was launched in 1992 when CDA confirmed the availability of 2940 plots. The Housing Foundation paid the cost of all the plots in 1993, which included development cost of plots. The CDA has demanded additional development charges @ Rs.650 per Sq. Yd. The development of D-12 is in progress by CDA. The CDA has promised to start development of E-12 with in this financial year after completion of acquisition process.

Phase-III Islamabad (Sector G-13 & Sub Sector G-14/4)

The Phase-III of the Housing scheme was launched in 1996 in Sector G-13 which was acquired by the Foundation directly through the Land Acquisition Collector without involving CDA. The award for the land was announced by the LAC in the year 1999 at Rs.2, 30, 000/-per kanal. The Sub-Sector G-14/4 was acquired by the Housing Foundation, for Quaid-e-Azam University for their Housing Scheme through the Land Acquisition Collector without involving CDA. The land, surplus to Quaid-e-Azam University, was handed over to the Foundation and formed part of its Phase-III. According to the planning carried out by CDA, 5964 plots of different categories in Sector G-13 and 1410 plots in Sub-sector G-14/4 have been created.

Present Status of Sector G-13 Islamabad

The PC-I for the development of infrastructure in G-13 was approved for Rs.3106.473 million. It was decided that CDA would develop the Sector as “Deposit Work”, within three years. The Infrastructure Development Work in G-13 commenced in June 2004. The contract for infrastructure Development has been awarded to M/s FWO whereas design Consultants of the project is M/s NESPAK.

The construction activities on Civil Components of Infrastructure i.e. Roads, Storm water Drainage System, Sewerage System & Water Supply System are in progress in full swing. These components are expected to be complete by the end of December 2006.

The detailed design of electrification component including grid station has been verified by IESCO and they are expected to issue the demand notice shortly. The demand notice issued by SNGPL has already been paid and it is expected that they will complete the development work in the next calendar year.

The sector G-13 is divided by Railway track. An under pass is proposed to be constructed at railway line on North Service Road whereas an over head will be constructed on Main Road No.1. M/s RAILCOP is expected to start the construction of underpass and over head bridge shortly.

The CDA has completed the tendering formalities for the construction of 100000 gallons overhead tank and 50000 gallons underground tank. The construction work is expected to start shortly.
Progress of Development Works

* Roads 89.0 %
* Drainage System 98.5 %
* Water Supply System 99.5 %
* Sewerage system 95 %
* External Electrification by (IESCO) 50%
* Suigas (Work yet to start by SNGP) -

Present Status of Sub-Sector G-14/4 Islamabad

The PC-I for the development of infrastructure in Sub-Sector G-14/4 was approved for Rs.703.540 million. The Development Work in Sub-Sector G-14/4 is being carried out by FGEHF on its own. The Infrastructure Development Work in Sub-Sector G-14/4 has commenced since September 2004. The contract for Infrastructure Development has been awarded to M/s NCL whereas the Consultant for Construction Supervision and detailed designing of the project and construction supervision has been entrusted to NESPAK.

The construction activities on Civil Components of Infrastructure i.e. Roads Drainage System, Sewerage System & Water supply system are in progress in full swing and expected to be complete by the end of December 2006.

The IESCO has issued the demand notice for the establishment of electrification infrastructure network, which is under process for payment. The SNGPL is also being pursued to issue demand notice for the establishment of gas infrastructure network.

P hase-IV Islamabad (Sub-Sectors G-14/1,2,3 & G-15/3,4)

The Phase-IV of the FGE Housing Scheme has been initiated in Sector G-14/1,2,3 &G-15/3,4 Islamabad. The Land Acquisition Collector issued the Notification under Section-4 for Sector G-14/1, 2 & 3 in 2002 whereas the award for the acquisition of land was announced by LAC on 29.1.2005. In addition to G-14/1, 2, 3 a pocket of G-15/3,4 (On East of G.T Road) has been formed part of the current scheme. The Notification under Section-4 for the acquisition of Sector G-15 pocket was issued by the LAC on 25-03-2005. Further processing and award is in process.

The Scheme was launched on 16th December 2003 after wide publicity through National Press. About 80,000 brochures were sold whereas 48000 applications were received back. There will be approximately 6500 plots of different sizes in this scheme. The scrutiny of applications is in process. Provisional offer letters are being issued to applicants who qualify under the age wise seniority.

Present Status of Sub-Sectors G-14/1,2,3 & G-15/3,4 Islamabad

The initial planning of the Sector was been got carried out through Pakistan PWD, which was submitted to CDA for approval. The planning wing CDA has issued the approved plans of Sector G-14/1,2,3 and G-15/3,4. As per approved planning, there will be 6553 plots of different categories in these sectors.

The Acquisition process is in progress and expected to be finalized soon. An amount of Rs.1.820 billions has been placed at the disposal of LAC for disbursement to the land owners. The LAC has been requested to allow assessment of built up property in the area so that after taking possession of these sectors, development activities could be initiated.

Phase-V Islamabad (Housing Scheme for Low Paid FG Employees in Sub-sectors G-11/3, 4)

The Housing Scheme for Low Paid FG Employees was launched by the Prime Minister on 11-04-2005. In this scheme which is a pilot project, 1000 Flats of three different categories are being constructed as Phase-V. An area of about 211 Kanals has been earmarked for these flats in Sector G-11/3 & G-11/4 Islamabad. M/s NESPAK have been appointed as Consultant of the project and will be responsible for detailed designing and construction supervision.

The detail of different categories of flats to be constructed is as follows:

Cat. BPS No. of Flats Covered Area Price

C 14-16 240 1100 Sft Rs.1800000/-

D 7-13 312 900 Sft Rs.1450000/-

E 1-6 448 700 Sft Rs.1200000/-

Present Status of Phase-V

After computer balloting, the apartments have been allotted to the successful applicants. At present construction of 974 Apartments of different categories (i.e. 456 E-Type, 320 D-Type and 198 C-Type) is progress. The tendering formalities of remaining C-Type are in process. The whole project is expected to complete by the end of financial year 2007-2008. The Plans and elevation of three different categories of under construction apartments are given as under:

i) C-Type Apartments

ii) D-Type Apartments

iii) E-Type Apartments

FGE Housing Scheme at Regi Lalma Peshawar

Peshawar Development Authority floated the Housing Scheme at Regi Lalma Town Ship in 1995, where a share of 1125 plots was earmarked for the Housing Foundation. All the plots have been allotted. The Development Work has been started at site, undertaken by M/s National Logistics Cell.

HOUSING SCHEMES AT KARACHI

Phase-I Karachi (KDA Scheme No.33)

The Land, measuring 115.0 acres in 6 pockets was acquired in 1991 in KDA Scheme-33 for Housing Foundation Schemes. The Phase-I comprising of 219 plots was floated in the year 1992 on 22.75 acres. The Development work has been carried out by the Housing Foundation and is complete. Along with carrying out infrastructure development, 9 houses have also been constructed by the Foundation.

Phase-II Karachi (KDA Scheme No.33)

The Phase-II comprising 300 plots (on 31.387 acres) was launched in 1999. Its Development work is in progress and progressing at a satisfactory speed.

FUTURE SCHEMES

Phase-VI Islamabad (Sector F-12)
Phase –IV of the Housing Scheme will be launched in F-12. The Prime Minister has already accorded approval for the allocation of Sector F-12 to Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation for allotment of plots to Federal government Employees.

Efforts are being made to finalize the modalities of land acquisition and subsequent development of sector with CDA.

Dozens of sanitary workers under the platform of Christian Progressive Movement (CPM) staged a protest camp in Sector I-10/1 and chanted slogans against the sanitary Inspector Mukhtar Masih and contractor Mian Maqsood. Talking to this agency, Kamran Bhatti, and others alleged that sanitary inspector always misbehaves with workers and forcibly extorts money from them.

They also alleged that he threatens them if will not oblige him they will be terminated from service.

He also alleged that contractor Mian Maqsood and Inspector Mukhtar Masih

were also involved in replacement of new workers with old workers, who denies to pay additional amount as ‘Bhatta’ to them.

They appealed to Capital Development Authority chairman and other concerned authorities to take notice of the situation and direct sanitary inspector and contractor not to harass poor sanitary workers. They vowed to continue their protest until fulfilment of their demands.

“Emphasis”, he said,” would be laid on finding alternate methods of generating income besides selling plots, which is the conventional method of making money.”

He said CDA would continue its projects aimed at public welfare despite the financial crunch confronting the authority presently.

He said shrinking resources did not deter the authority’s highups and it was policy of CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi to continue delivering to the masses by continuing the ongoing developmental projects in the federal capital.

Besides this, he said new developmental projects are also in store and they would be executed with as much zeal and dedication as those, which were currently being carried out.

He dispelled the impression that financial crisis had rendered CDA weak and fragile. He said the Authority had very much the capacity to pay to the contractors engaged in work on different projects.

“It is one of the priorities of the CDA chairman to develop G and I series sectors of Islamabad, which hitherto have been ignored as there has been too much focus on beautifying E and F sectors, which are relatively posh and inhabited by rich class,” he added. app

The Defence Housing Authority (DHA), in collaboration with the Bahria Town and Habib Rafique Limited (HRL), has launched a low-cost housing project ‘DHA Valley and DHA Valley Overseas Block’.

Balloting for the project was held at the DHA Valley Expressway Phase II Extension here on Monday. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, DHA Administrator Brigadier ® Javed Iqbal said that the project is designed for low-income people. “We are determined to complete the project in time,” he said. He stated that the project would have all basic facilities of life like schools, parks and shopping centres.

Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz said that they have taken care of the public. “An ordinary person can only dream to have luxuries of life, but we made it possible in the DHA Valley. We have taken care of the salaried class and they will be having all world-class residential facilities in the project. In this phase, we have developed 5- and 8-marla plots. More than 90,000 people, both in Pakistan and overseas, have got themselves registered with us through this project,” he said.

Malik Riaz assured the allottees that the project would be completed well before its timeframe. The chief engineer of the project said that the scheme would be a world-class residential experience. He said that an American firm — OJMR-Los Angeles — has designed the project. The DHA has constructed an expressway to join the project with Islamabad Highway, he added. He said that parks, golf courses and green areas would be developed in the project. The housing scheme will be completed in three-and-a-half years.

News Source The News International KARACHI: As applications close this month for the DHA City project in Karachi, questions remain how many of the plots on sale have been allocated to civilians. DHA officials told The News that the public response to the scheme had been overwhelming but there were questions how many of those applicants, who have given a Rs5,500 non-refundable fee, will actually end up with an allotment.

The scheme runs by the end of August for public applicants and it is expected that there will be a surge of applications in the final days. This will make the DHA richer by millions of rupees as some say that this whole process, in which civilians were invited to apply for DHA plots, is intended more to raise money and less to give civilians a chance to buy land.

After two months of its launch, however, the authorities boast of an unprecedented response by the citizens of Karachi, still some people feel that there are certain shortfalls which the authorities must have taken care of before the announcement of the scheme.

At the time when the project was announced, the master planning of plots had not been started. Now although the DHA made the announcement on August 12 to start the master planning, people are still unaware of a lot of groundwork.

There is ambiguity about the classification and division of the number of plots for each category. As the plots will be given to two classes of people, army personnel and civilians, it has not yet been declared what will be the distribution of plots for each.

And since this is the first venture by the DHA for civilians along with the army, common people are still skeptical, despite the goodwill that the DHA enjoys in the real estate business.

“If for example out of 4,000 plots even 2,000 are kept for the civilians and there are 15,000 applicants what chances will I stand of winning the plot in the ballot,” commented an interested buyer.

On this, Major Shaukat Alvi, Director of DHA City project, commented: “Whatever DHA earns will be spent on the development of the project which is progressing fast. The non-refundable fee that we are charging is far less than what history has seen in the real estate sector here.”

“We have also made the process transparent whereby people can get the forms on the web, while in the past these forms were sold in black at five times higher prices,” he added.

As far as the advancement of the process is concerned, the DHA is a long-term project expanded over a period of 9-10 years but “we have already started preparations for master planning, which includes ground water exploration, topographical survey, geological survey, etc,” commented Major Alvi.

He said after these preparations it would be decided how much plots would be given to civilians and how much to the army.

The DHA has reserved 45 per cent land as the lowest bound for residential purposes in the area, 25pc for roads and the rest for commercial, utilities, recreation and amenity purposes and for greenery. “This planning is being done in accordance with international standards and rules for construction in an area,” he added.

“We have set quotas for every category be it allotment, planning or anything else and all the work is being done very fairly and diligently,” he added.

He also said “while it is the common perception among people and real estate agents that the DHA is charging more for a plot in that area, whatever the DHA is charging includes development charges which have been determined with very less profit by the authorities.”

“Our aim is to provide a state-of-the art and diverse society to all citizens where there is no polarisation and people from all castes and classes can live in unison, as in the case of DHA Karachi and other DHAs of the country.”

He assured that balloting of the plots would be done in a completely fair and honest manner whereby even those who had given services for defence would stand the same chance of getting the plot as the civilians.