KARACHI : An NGO working for poverty alleviation has announced a large-scale housing project for the poor throughout Pakistan with an estimated cost of $1.8 billion. This was announced at a signing ceremony of an MoU between ‘Human Relief and Development Foundation’ and Project Directorate Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Town, Government of Sindh.
Speaking at 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.
Human Relief and Development Foundation has joined hands with the Government of Sindh to construct 1,00,000 Free-of-Cost houses in overall Pakistan, starting from Sindh for the allottees of the plots in Benazir Bhutto town schemes in several districts of Sindh. The Benazir Bhutto town schemes were launched as a Special initiative of Government of Sindh in its Annual Development Plan 2011-12. The Director General, Lyari Development Authority, was given additional charge of the Project Director, SMBBT, BOR, GOS for accomplishing task of allotments of plots free of cost to the poorest of the power in 23-districts & 45 towns/cities of Sindh.
The MoU signing ceremony was held at Lyari Development Authority office, Karachi Agha Maqsood Abbas, Project Director SMBBT Programme headed the signing ceremony. He shared his views about the project and appreciated his team who worked hard for the speedy development of infrastructure. Project Director SMBBT informed that the scheme was initiated under the instructions of former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari. The development work in the SMBBT was monitored by the Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and local Government Minister Syed Owais Muzaffar. Special efforts were made for early completion of development works being under final stage only because keen interest of Chief Minister and Local Government Minister, he added.