PHA, Italian company sign MoU for construction of houses
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed among Ministry of Housing and Works, Italian Company Ev-K2- CNR and Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) here Monday for the construction of environment friendly houses, flats and apartments in all major cities, federal capital and Northern Areas of the country.
An MoU in this regard was signed by Managing Director Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA), Raja Muhammad Abbas and President Ev-K2-CNR Mr.Agostino Da Polenza on behalf of their respective organizations. Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Vincenzo Prati, Ms Stefania Mondini, Riaz ul Hassan and officials of Ministry of Housings and Works and PHA also witnessed the ceremony.
Briefing the Italian delegation , Secretary Housing and Works Samiul Haq Khiliji said the government is constructing one million, flats and apartments for poor, low income people and government officials which would not only help overcome housing shortage but also create employment opportunities for the people in the country.
The construction would also help bring much needed foreign investment besides providing guidelines for future cooperation between the two countries.
There is acute storage of residential houses in the Northern Areas and Ev-K2-CNR is the first foreign company which would construct residential units for the people, the Secretary told media persons.
He said that efforts are being made to acquire lands for the project and Chief Secretary Northern Areas has assured full support for acquisition of lands near Gilgit. The company intends to invest many million dollars on the construction of housing units. President of Italian company Mr. Agostino Da Polenza and Managing Director, Pakistan Housing Authority, Raja Muhammad Abbas signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
Ambassador of Italy, Vincenzo Prati, Secretary, Housing & Works, Mr. Sami-ul-Haq Khilji, members of the Italian company's delegation and senior officials of the Ministry of Housing & Works also attended the ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary Housing & Works expressed his gratitude to the Italian company for their keen interest in the Prime Minister's Housing programme. He said that it was encouraging that many multinational companies of the world involved in the construction of housing units/apartments have shown their keenness for participation in the upcoming mega housing scheme under which one million houses would be constructed in the country for poor, needy government servants and general public on affordable cost.