PRIME Minister Imran Khan is still optimistic of achieving over ambitious target of providing ten million jobs and five million housing units in his remaining tenure. Enumerating mega projects as Bundal Island and Ravi city as well as affordable houses under Naya Pakistan Housing scheme, the PM, in an interview with a private television channel on Saturday said completion of these would bring revolution in lives of the people.
This optimism expressed by the PM indeed would have given a hope of glimmer to people who are greatly perturbed over rising unemployment and increase in prices of essential commodities. The projects mentioned by the PM indeed have the potential to change entire landscape of the country as construction sector will not only uplift many other allied industries but also provide immense job opportunities. However much depends how these projects are executed? It is a matter of satisfaction that the PM is personally monitoring progress on projects like Ravi city in which overseas Pakistanis have also shown tremendous interest. However, eyes of the people at home are focused on Naya Pakistan housing schemes under which loans are being provided on low interest rates. To make it a success, government must take steps to further simplify procedures with cooperation of banks so that people could easily get loans in a hassle free manner. Currently a loan of three million or five million is being provided which is not enough keeping in view high prices of plots and houses. There is a need to further enhance this limit to at least eight million rupees. In our view, the target of providing ten million jobs will remain unrealised until due focus is also given to promotion of industrial as well as agriculture sector. Uplift of these sectors will also help bolster our exports and take forward the country on path of self-reliance and sustainable development.
