MoU with Turkey for low-income housing

CM welcomes agreement; Turkishfirm to provide technical assistance for 25,000 houses in 2016 and another 25,000 in 2017

LAHORE

An agreement was signed between the Punjab government and a renowned Turkish housing sector institution Saturday under which, Housing Development Administration Turkey (TOKI) will provide technical assistance for construction of 50,000 low-cost houses in Punjab.

According to the agreement, Turk institution will provide technical assistance to the Punjab government for construction of 25,000 houses in 2016 and another 25,000 houses in 2017. Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was the chief guest at an agreement signing ceremony at Model Town. Provincial Minister for Housing Tanvir Aslam Malik signed the agreement on behalf of the Punjab government while President of the institution Mehmet Ergun Turan on behalf of TOKI. Turk Ambassador in Pakistan S. Babur Girgin was also present.

Talking to the media, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the agreement was a welcome step.  He said that under the leadership of Turk President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, houses were given to lakhs of Turk people belonging to low segment and the renowned Turk institution TOKI had constructed eight to nine lakh houses during the last 15 years and the institution also intended to construct five lakh more houses during the next five years. 

 The chief minister said that under the model of Turkey, houses had been provided to lakhs of homeless Turk people.  "Under the model, houses are given on easy installments. The Turk model is very popular and successful in other countries," he added. Shahbaz Sharif said that he was highly thankful on the arrival of the delegation of TOKI and Pakistan was their second home. He said Pakistan would benefit from their experience in the housing sector. The chief minister said that he was also thankful to Turk President  Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu who have sent the Turk institution for help. "There is lack of low-cost housing schemes for poor people in Pakistan and Punjab. Residential  schemes have been prepared for rich and elite but no one thought for the common man. The Punjab government started Aashiyana housing schemes for Pakistanis in which hundreds of houses have been built for homeless people. The energy crisis is the biggest challenge of Pakistan and under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, work was underway round the clock to overcome the energy crisis. He said that work had been started on energy projects speedily throughout Pakistan and with the completion of the projects, thousands of megawatt electricity will be added to national grid.

 Shahbaz Sharif said, "We will have to pay attention to low-cost housing schemes and complete them speedily for the provision of roof to homeless people. For the purpose, an agreement has been signed with Turk institution TOKI and we will fully benefit from its experience with regard to planning of housing schemes," he added. 

The chief minister said that Turk institution will extend all out assistance through its experience like brother, friend and persons of a family and by adopting its model, we will provide roof to great Pakistanis who are deprived of the facility in the country. He said, "We want to construct 50,000 houses within two years and will benefit from the experiences of the Turk institution regarding financial model, management, technology, administrative model and best use of land for low cost housing schemes." 

In his address, the TOKI President said that experiences of the institution regarding low cost housing schemes would be transferred to the Punjab government and it would extend full cooperation to the Punjab government in the regard. He said that the meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was very useful and they agreed to enhance technical cooperation with the Punjab government.

 Earlier, a high level delegation led by President Housing Development Administration (TOKI) Turkey Mehmet Ergun Turan called on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the delegation evinced keen interest in cooperation in the housing sector of Punjab.