Why housing schemes are losing trust of overseas Pakistanis?

The real estate sector is gaining substantial ground across the globe after a gradual recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. But this sector is struggling in Pakistan because of volatile political scenario, deteriorating economy and ever-depleting rupee against dollar.

Overseas Pakistanis’ lack of trust is another major factor attributed to the sharp slump in property sector. They invested in housing schemes, but are awaiting to construct dream homes because these schemes lack basic utilities.

Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) is the main culprit which has failed to complete housing schemes launched in early 80s.

It is alarming that housing schemes launched under the auspices of the OPF four decades ago are still lying incomplete.

Reportedly, inaction on part of OPF is main reason for this delay. This has sent shockwaves among Overseas Pakistanis, who are uncertain about their investment and the future of these housing schemes.

The Overseas Pakistanis accuse OPF for this failure as the body has been extending undue favours and involved in excess land acquisition at high rates. OPF has also been incurring expenditures on development of non-OPF land, making fake overpayment to contractors.

Raja Tahir Rashied from Gujar Khan in Punjab province is an Overseas Pakistani who is worried about his investment in OPF-launched housing schemes. He has raised his voice about the inability of OPF on several platforms, but without any success so far.

“Non-development, land grabbing, and illegal occupation of houses have been plaguing the OPF-launched housing schemes,” he quipped.

Quoting an example, he said OPF Valley has been facing issue of water scarcity and electricity supply for the last 30 years. Installments and overhead charges are other permanent headaches.

Several overseas Pakistanis feel perturbed as the OPF has deprived them of the due reward on their investment. “Overseas Pakistanis wait for divine intervention for completion of OPF-launched housing schemes as they lack development and basic amenities despite being launched four decades ago,” said Amina Mufti, who has substantial investment in OPF housing schemes.

National Assembly’s Standing Committee has taken a notice of delay in completion and the non-handover of possession of the plots to the allottees, but without any progress so far.

Current status of OPF residential scheme

OPF has created housing schemes in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Gujrat, Dadu, Larkana and Mirpur, where Overseas Pakistanis have invested billions of rupees.

Here is an overview of OPF-launched housing schemes in different cities;

Islamabad OPF Valley Zone Five Scheme

Located on Zone Five Japan Road, this scheme consists of 5,000 Kanals of land. OPF launched this project in 1994, but allottees have not built a single house in 29 years. Reportedly, OPF has completed 99% of the development work, but it has given possession of half of the plots to investors.

The authorities have built four underground and four overhead tanks for water supply, however, they have not laid down the supply pipes. Similarly, they have arranged for temporary power supply, but land levelling work is pending.

Work is in progress on the route from Gulbarg Green since its approval in 2015. However, the work on the boundary wall construction is yet to kick-start. The OPF has started booking for two country homes and modern luxury apartments. But it has not allotted a single plot out of 100 commercial plots.

Lahore

Phase On: OPF started this project on Raiwind Road, which is spread over 2316 Kanals, in 1996, and it has completed it.

OPF has allotted 1735 plots out of the total 1783 plots while it has allotted 24 of the 93 commercial plots.

All development works including electricity, water, roads, and boundary wall have been complete. Allottees have constructed 261 houses while 76 houses are under construction. Though the OPF has granted possession, yet the allottees have not started construction on around 1600 plots.

Phase One Extension: OPF started this project on Raiwind Road, two kilometers from Shaukat Khanum Hospital, in 1990, covering 728 kanals. OPF has accomplished all the development works except for the supply of electricity and gas. It has allotted all 485 plots, but it has not allotted 36 residential and few commercial plots.

Phase Two: OPF started this 558 kanal project in 1990, and got its Master Plan from Lahore Development Authority (LDA). Authorities have completed the planning and designing of the project. However, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is investigating misappropriation in OPF schemes in Lahore.

Peshawar

The scheme started in 1990 on Budhni Road Peshawar with an area of ​​991 kanals. It has 681 residential and 74 commercial plots. OPF has allotted all the residential plots in 2005 while it has yet to allot 64 out of 74 commercial plots. The allottees have built 95 houses while 45 are under construction.

Gujarat

OPF started 296 kanal housing scheme on Bhimbar Road, Gujarat, in 1987 and completed it in 1995. It has allotted 211 residential and 57 commercial plots while it is constructing a school in this scheme.

Dadu

OPF launched this scheme on Maru Road, Dadu on an area of ​​168 kanals. It has 404 residential and 13 commercial plots. OPF has completed allotment of residential plots but it has not auctioned the commercial plots yet. Authorities have completed the civil and electrical works in this scheme in 2001 and 2004 respectively. The management intends to start the construction of a school here.

Larkana

OPF started 228 kanal project in 1987, nad has allotted 430 residential and 24 commercial plots. Though OPF completed this project in 1996, however 200 allottees have built their houses.

Mirpur

OPF launched three-phased project at Chhatrapadi, five kilometers away from Mangala Dam in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir in 1981 with an area of ​​5710 kanals. The project has 2877 residential and 187 commercial plots. OPF has allotted 2507 residential and 106 commercial plots. Despite the completion of all the development works in the three phases, only 15 allottees have built their houses while 18 are under construction.

Grievances of allottees are quite legitimate

Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Sajid Tori, in a conversation with Urdu News portal, said that they were aware of the shortcomings in the housing schemes for Overseas Pakistanis. During the visits abroad, he said, many Overseas Pakistanis expressed their concern about these issues.

“I have visited the schemes in Lahore and Islamabad and directed authorities concerned that no further delay will be tolerated in provision of necessary facilities in these schemes,” he added.

He said: ‘I am contacting the heads of the relevant institutions to supply gas, water and electricity for these housing schemes.’