ISLAMABAD, March 11 (INP): Prime Minister Imran Khan says the government will provide flats to dwellers of katchi abbadis (urban slums) in near future.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, PM Khan said modern constructions will be made in katchi abadis (urban slums) with the help of private sector.

He underlined that the ‘thinking of present government is very different from those of the past.’

He said China pushed 700 million people out of poverty line. “Pakistan needs to follow the same model,” he stated. Prime minister said low-cost housing scheme was aimed to eradicating poverty and serving the lower class.

“A large number of people in Pakistan cannot afford to buy a home … and if we don’t change our policies, only a fraction of population would be able to have their own homes.”

He said a model was being formulated to help farmers so they could buy a place for living.

PM Khan stated that a salaried class cannot have their own house. He lamented that no rulers from the past thought about the hardships of people living in slums. “The current government is working on their welfare.”

“We will work to construct cities upwardly, instead of expanding them”, he remarked.

He mentioned that the government would soon initiate modern constructions in ‘katchi abadis’ with the help of private sector. “The government will allow high-rises in commercial areas.”

PM Khan said the government had an aim from day one and that is to promote people from the low-tier.