Steps afoot to ensure affordable homes for all in KP: Shafi Jan

PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was implementing “effective and result-oriented measures” to provide affordable, quality and secure housing across the province. These views were expressed by Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Shafi Jan.
Addressing a joint press conference with Provincial Minister for Housing Dr Amjad Ali here on Wednesday, he said the provincial government had completed seven major housing schemes over the past 12 years at a cumulative cost of Rs34 billion. The projects, spread over 9,497 kanals, delivered 10,477 housing units, including plots and flats, under the vision of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan.
Mr Jan said work was currently underway on seven additional large-scale projects worth Rs31billion. Once completed, the schemes will add 38,784 residential units over 30,447 kanals.
He said the government had launched the “Ehsaas Apna Ghar Scheme” to extend interest-free loans of up to Rs1.5 million for construction and expansion of houses. Funds have already been disbursed to 114 successful applicants selected through a transparent balloting process, while the second phase of the scheme has also begun.
The special assistant announced that the PC-I of the flagship New Peshawar Valley project, spanning over 106,000 kanals, had been approved. He said progress was also underway on Jarma Township, Bani Gul City Bannu, Hangu Township, Dangram Housing Scheme Swat and Mega City Nowshera.
To ensure transparency, all housing-related services have been digitised and integrated with the Dastak App, while the E-PADs system has been implemented for procurement and construction. Revised Land Sharing Regulations 2025 have also been approved, he added. Mr Jan said a Housing Foundation had been set up to facilitate government employees, with around 96,000 employees registered so far and 75,000 issued digital cards. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Amjad Ali said the Housing Department had adopted a cashless economy policy and fully digitised its services.
He said multiple projects were underway under the KP Housing Authority, including Hangu Township on 8,362 kanals with 10,162 plots costing Rs14.99bn; Dangram Housing Scheme Swat on 501 kanals with 682 plots worth Rs2.93bn; and Warsak One in Peshawar, comprising 160 flats on 5.5 kanals at Rs2.15bn.
Other ongoing schemes include Jarma Housing Scheme Kohat on 300 kanals with 463 plots worth Rs563.27m, and Bannu Housing Scheme on 11,029 kanals with 7,817 plots costing Rs969m.
The minister said completed projects over the past 12 years included high-rise flats in Hayatabad, Peshawar, with 144 units on 28 kanals costing Rs1.72bn; Jalozai Housing Scheme Nowshera on 8,905 kanals with 9,477 plots worth Rs14.07bn; and Civil Quarters Phase-I and II in Peshawar with 150 flats costing Rs1.58bn combined.
Other completed schemes were Jalozai flats with 116 units on 150 kanals costing Rs330m; Malazai Housing Scheme Peshawar on 190 kanals with 371 plots worth Rs173m; and Havelian Township Abbottabad on 218 kanals with 219 plots costing Rs145m.
Dr Amjad said the department was strictly implementing austerity measures, including a 25 per cent cut in officers’ POL quota and grounding 60pc of official vehicles. All official meetings were now being held online, he added.
He further stated that under Horticulture Regulations 2025, plot owners were now required to plant trees according to plot size.