F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry Tuesday said that the federal cabinet approved established of ‘Naya Pakistan Housing Authority’, taking a step forward to fulfil the promise for construction of low-cost houses.
Fawad Chaudhry, while addressing a media briefing after the federal cabinet meeting, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the housing project by laying its foundation stone in Islamabad on April 17.
Fawad Hussain has said the federal cabinet has approved construction of 1,35,000 apartments under Naya Pakistan Housing Authority across the country.
The Minister said the cabinet granted approval to the establishment of Naya Pakistan Housing Authority, He said 25,000 apartments will be built in Islamabad for federal government employees and Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the scheme on 17th of this month. He said 110,000 apartments will be constructed in Balochistan, where fishermen of Gwadar can get residence as well.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the Prime Minister also directed crackdown against big fish involved in theft of electricity and gas. He said pilferage of electricity worth forty billion rupees has been prevented due to effective measures. He said cases have registered against those involved in gas and electricity theft. He said gas worth three billion rupees was stolen in last three years. He said 43 percent gas is being stolen. He said 93 percent of gas in Karak district and 41 percent in Balochistan went unaccounted for.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said PML-N leader Sheikh Rohail Asghar’s gas bill has gone up from mere 1,200 rupees to over ten million rupees, which shows massive theft of the commodity.
The Minister said that a train station is being established at Nankana Sahib after the name of Baba Guru Nanak. He said the cabinet approved directing all the government departments to use Pakistan Post for official communication.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that a grant of 94 million Euros from Germany was also approved to be utilized for the provision of clean drinking water to the residents of Faisalabad.
He said the cabinet also nodded establishment of Media University with its headquarters in Islamabad. He said media technology, digital media, cinematography, and other modern media techniques will be taught at the new state of the art university. He said the media university will be established after merging three academies namely PTV, Information Academy, and Pakistan Broadcasting Academy.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain told the media that Finance Minister Asad Umar is visiting Washington to discuss an agreement with the IMF, which is likely to be signed soon.
He said Asset Declaration Scheme will be launched after discussing it with Asad Umar upon his return from Washington.
He said the meeting also approved reconstitution of Evacuee Trust Board. He said the approval was granted to one year license for a private airline MS Air Eagle. He said it was approved that now Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal will provide financial assistance for treatment of fatal diseases, which include liver and kidney problems.
The Information Minister said the government is closely monitoring the way pattern of Hudabiya Paper Mills case being used as a model for money laundering through front men.
He said millions of rupees were laundered abroad and then re-routed to Pakistan through fake bank accounts. He said Hamza Shahbaz, Asif Ali Zardari, Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif were pursing the same pattern. He said PTI’s stance is very clear regarding corruption and accountability as no one will be given clemency, who has looted the wealth of Pakistan.
