Introduction
Building a house is the dream of every single person, but in the era of inflation and high economic instability, it’s not possible for everyone to fulfil this dream. Our ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan came up with an affordable and accessible housing scheme, “The Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme,” for uplifting the nation’s standard and promoting economic growth.
In this blog, we will discuss what this project is all about, the main idea, and the purpose of our Prime Minister behind it.
Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority
NAPHDA is the Developing Arm of the Government, established on January 15, 2020, through a Parliamentary Act to revolutionise Pakistan’s housing and infrastructure development.
The authority functions under the headship of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and operates from the Cabinet Division, or PM’s Secretariat. The representative body, consisting of both the government and private sector, oversees the corporation.
In the coming section of the blog, we will overview Khan’s government and try to explain why he was eager to set up an authority for the house-owning of common people.
An Overview of Khan’s Government
Imran Khan’s journey from being a cricketer to a philanthropic icon and statesman is a testament to his commitment to social welfare. He transitioned into a philanthropist after his victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup and raised millions of dollars to build a cancer hospital in memory of his late mother and a university to provide higher education to students at affordable fees and with easy scholarships. Now, Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre is taking care of many cancer patients who are unable to afford their treatments. Along with it, the Shaukat Khanam Research Centre is working on new ways to develop an efficient and effective treatment for cancer.
Imran Khan, after retiring from cricket,established a party named Pakistan Tehreek Insaf to work for the common people and their betterment. His philanthropic approach can be seen in his political work throughout the present day.
Before the PTI came into power, three parties were ruling Pakistan: the Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, and our Army in the form of Martial law. Common people were suffering from three of these parties and were never guaranteed basic rights. Although they always said out loud that they are our well-wishers and are working for our betterment, their policies were always aligned towards a capitalistic system where the poor became poorer and the rich became richer. They made policies that would help them gain the interest of business giants while ignoring the common people.
When PTI came to power, our Prime Minister Imran Khan gave a speech to the nation in which he mentioned children affected by stunted growth, a condition in which children stop developing mentally and physically as a result of poor diet and improper nutrition. By mentioning them, he meant to say that by going through the political grind of these three parties, our nation failed to develop with time, and now he will make all his efforts to stand the Nation on its feet.
PTI’s government hosted and established many projects for the betterment of the common people. He provided a Sehat Sahulat Card to every NIC-holding Pakistani citizen with an insurance amount worth Rs 1 million per family annually. He distributed Rs 150 billion and more among the needy through the Ehsas Emergency Cash Programme. PM Imran Khan brought back thousands of poor Pakistanis locked up in prisons abroad via effective and impressive diplomacy. He initiated the Austerity campaign by reducing the cost of PM House from Rs 509 million to Rs 339 million. Besides it, he initiated the Pannah Gah programme, the Ehsaas programme, the Kamyab Jawan programme, and Digital Pakistan to ease the lives of common people and make youth capable enough to participate in the dynamic world of technology and business. Along with them, he started Made in Pakistan Moment to promote Pakistani products and boost local businesses, strengthening the economy. His commitment to social welfare, poverty alleviation, and healthcare has left a lasting impact on the lives of countless Pakistanis.
Besides other developmental projects and the image-building of Pakistan, Khan did marvellous work for his nation. After years of darkness, when Khan brought rays of light to Pakistan, some political parties and powers got hurt and planted a conspiracy against his government, and as a result, he was removed from his office as a result of a no-confidence motion. Despite this setback, Imran Khan’s popularity remains evident, with tens of thousands of supporters rallying in his favour after his removal from power.
Though his political journey may have faced obstacles, Imran Khan’s vision for a prosperous Pakistan and dedication to the welfare of his people continue to inspire hope and admiration. As he strives to overcome the challenges and allegations against him, he remains a symbol of hope for a brighter future for Pakistan and its people. Although he lost the confidence of the selected ones, he stands out alone in the hearts of the whole nation!
The account makes us aware of the fact that Khan is eager to work for the betterment of his nation and wants to fulfil its dreams. Khan took small steps, and one of them is the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme.
The Purpose Behind NAPHDA
The main purpose behind NAPHDA was to build five million affordable houses in five years for ordinary people who could never think of owning their own house. Another goal of the scheme was the provision of employment opportunities to our youth via the construction industries linked to the project.
Now that we are aware of what NAPHDA wants to achieve, in the next section of the blog, we will focus on how NAPHDA achieves its mission.
How NAPHDA Achieves Its Mission
- Facilitation Centre for Investors and Builders: NAPHDA provides a one-window operation through its Facilitation Centre to ensure efficiency and convenience, encouraging more stakeholders to participate in the housing sector.
- Regional Offices for Widespread Impact: The Authority has established regional offices in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi to enable NAPHDA to reach diverse communities and address their unique housing needs effectively.
- Obtaining Mortgage Loans and Financing: NAPHDA collaborates with banks and financial institutions to secure mortgage loans and financing options to facilitate homeownership for those who previously found it challenging to access affordable housing.
- Promotion of Low-Cost Housing Projects: NAPHDA also explores various funding avenues, including Real Estate Investment Trusts, bonds, and Term Finance certificates, to help subsidise low-cost housing projects, making them financially viable.
- Optimal Utilisation of Consultants: The Authority utilises the expertise of consultants for the design, technical evaluation, and monitoring of housing projects to ensure the delivery of high-quality and well-planned housing units.
- Flexibility through Public-Private Partnerships: NAPHDA embraces flexibility by outsourcing certain activities, including development works, through public-private partnerships to encourage private-sector involvement, diversify resources, and accelerate progress.
Transforming Pakistan, One Home at a Time
Naya Pakistan Housing & Development Authority (NAPHDA) is at the forefront of Pakistan’s transformative journey towards providing affordable housing and better living conditions. By generating construction activity and promoting financial investment, the Authority stimulates economic growth and fosters self-reliance. The initiative not only offers a respectable standard of living for citizens but also creates employment opportunities, driving progress for the entire nation.
With Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision and NAPHDA’s dedication, the dream of a prosperous Pakistan, built on a strong foundation of affordable housing, is well within reach. Together, we can shape a brighter future for generations to come.