A sum of Rs.2.1 million has been allocated under Housing Sector in ADP for the year 2005-06.

On account of shortage of Housing Units at National Level, the government has announced NHP 2001 which envisages, to provide housing unit for low income groups on affordable cost. To implement the NHP 2001, the NWFP Government established the Housing Department in July 2004. For the establishment of its executing arm i.e. the Provincial Housing Authority Ordinance 2005. Under section 3 of this ordinance, the Chief Minister, NWFP approved the establishment of PHA, which was notified on 27.07.2005.

In addition to the above the following steps / progress has been made by this department:-

i) The main aim of the Housing department is to provide housing Units and plots to Govt: servants and General Public respectively on affordable rates in each suitable district. In this connection the department has tried to identify state land in different districts through the Board of Revenue. Till now the Board of Revenue ahs identified state land only in eight (08) districts. For the remaining districts they have shown their in-ability for providing information regarding big chunks of state land.

ii) To functionalize the Housing Department and to implement the National Housing Policy 2001, thee first meeting of PHA was held on 15.05.2006 under the Chairmanship of chief Minister, NWFP wherein the following decisions were made:-

• To make the Authority functional an amount of 50 million was sanctioned for establishing of a fund under section 12 of Housing Authority Act, 2005. This FUND will be utilized for the purchase / acquisition of land for various Housing Schemes. In this connection payment will be made for acquiring 400 Kanals of land identified at Regi Model Town Ship.
  
• Under Section 23 of the PHA act, 2005 and amount of 50 million has been approved to meet the administrative and establishment expenditure of the authority, which includes salaries and allowances of the offices and staff of the PHA.
  
• About 103 Posts for PHA have been sanctioned, out of which three officers have been appointed whereas for the rest of staff the case is under process.
  
• Office building has been provided to the provincial Housing Authority in the premises of the Director General, Agriculture Institute, University Road, Peshawar. The requisite alteration and change in the office building will be made and off ice equipments will be arranged within 3 or 4 months time after the release of funds.
• The Rules / Regulations of the PHA are in the process of framing.

iii) At the initial / emre3ring stage of the PHA it is the desire of the department to fully utilize the expertise of the technical staff available in the Local Area Authorities (LAAs). This department has tried its best to establish linkages with the LAAs, for which a case has already been taken up with the concerned quarter which is under process.

iv) The Rules relating to the private sector development schemes have already been promulgated by the Govt: of NWFP.

v) Regarding completion of state land inventory and computerization of land record, the case is under process in the Board of Revenue department.

vi) As regards provision of developing pro-poor affordable package of Housing Schemes for low income groups this department has proposed to auction plots above 5 marlas to the General Public and provide cross subsidy to small plots measuring 3-5 marlas through balloting,. Moreover this department is also in touch with the House Building Corporation / Messers (Saiban) who have established a scheme namely Khuda Ki Basti at Karachi which is planned to be visited / studied by a committee on 19.09.2006 for its s possible replication in NWFP as per decision taken during the presentation made to the Senior Minister, NWFP on 25.05.2006 by HBFC.

vii) Further it is added that the meeting of the Special Committee of PHA with regards to the Government Servants residential units is going to be held shortly, in which important decisions will be made in light of PHA Act. It is further added that the funds received for the purpose will be placed in the Islamic Banking Branch of the Bank of Khyber, in the interest free account.