Sindh Government making efforts to provide shelter to poorest of the poor families in Sindh: Agha Maqsood Abbas

Karachi, September 18, 2013 (PPI-OT): The Government of Sindh is making all out efforts to provide shelter to the poorest of the poor families throughout the province of Sindh and to achieve this goal 50,000 plots under the scheme of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Towns are being developed in 23 districts (45 towns/cities) of Sindh.

This was disclosed by Mr. Agha Maqsood Abbas Project Director Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Towns and Director General Lyari Development Authority at the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding between Human Relief and Development Foundation and Project Directorate Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Towns, Land Utilization Department Government of Sindh for construction of houses by the Foundation and to be handed over to the allottees.

Mr. Agha Maqsood Abbas, Project Director, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Towns and Mr. Rizwan Ahmed Mirza, President, Human Relief and Development Foundation Islamabad (HRDF), have signed the Memorandum of understanding in which HRDF has joined hands with Government of Sindh to construct 100,000 free of cost houses in overall Pakistan starting from Sindh for allottees of plots in Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Towns in districts of Sindh.

The Government of Sindh has launched the scheme Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Towns under the instructions of former President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari for providing 50,000 plots free of cost to the poorest of the poor families.

The infrastructure development work on 18,000 plots in Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Towns, Karachi have almost been completed and should be ready for construction of houses. Similarly in first phase, the development works in 10 districts are also accelerated while work on the other 12 districts will shortly be carried out. The Government of Sindh is bearing all infrastructure development expenditure being incurred for development of these plots.

The development work in the SMBBT is being monitored by Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Local Government Minister Syed Owais Muzaffar. Special efforts were made for early completion of all development works which are being under final stage only because of keen interest of Local Government Minister.

Speaking on the occasion, President of the Foundation said that the biggest hindrance to the empowerment of the masses in Pakistan is the lack of social security provided by a self-owned home, causing entrenched poverty cycles to persist over generations. HRDF, a national NGO working for poverty alleviation in the country has announced a large scale housing scheme project for the poor throughout Pakistan with an estimated cost of US$ 1.8 billion. The NGO with the support of international donors from Middle East, USA and Europe will construct the houses.

The President of the NGO told that they will construct 100,000 houses for the poor across the country which will start from Sindh. Mr. Agha Maqsood Abbas, Project Director SMBBT also commended HRDF to be a vital partner of Government of Sindh in the endeavour to provide Free-of Cost Housing for the poor. Besides others, Mr. Najeeb Malik, Chief Engineer, Mr. Manzar Zahoor, Chief Town Planner and Foundation’s Country Head Mr. Janas Khan were also present at the occasion.

For more information, contact:
Director General
Mr. Agha Maqsood Abbas
Lyari Development Authority
4thFloor, Left Wing Civic Centre,
Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi,
Pakistan
Tel: 021-99230985, 021-99230472 and 74
Email: directorgeneral@ldakarachi.com.pk