Iqbal Institute of Policy Studies conducted an online interactive session to discuss Prime Minister Imran Khan’s incentive package for construction industry in order to increase employment opportunities in the country amidst Covid-19 outbreak. The session was attended by experts from different fields of life, including Shafiq Akbar, CEO Imarat Group of Companies and Chairman IIPS, Vice Chairman LDA SM Imran, Chairman ABAD, Akber Sheikh, President IIPS Advisory Board Lt Gen (r) Haroon Aslam, former chairman Naya Pakistan Zaigham Mahmood, Javed Afzal, Provincial Chief (Punjab) SMEDA and Chairman PCATP Kaleem Siddiqui.
The experts gave their insights on how the construction incentive package will help in shaping the urban fabric of the country and the effect of tax rebates and incentives on construction related activities. They also discussed the views of builders, developers and sustainability practitioners on the construction package. Shafiq Akbar said that since the inception of Pakistan, this is the first time that any government has realized the true potential of the real estate sector. “Government departments are unable to make master plans of all cities because they have limited human and financial resources. This is a great opportunity for private companies to aid the government in this regard,” he added. While discussing the smart cities as need of the hour, former chairman Naya Pakistan Zaigham Mahmood said that energy-efficient housing will create impact only when it will be implemented on the existing stock of the buildings which are large in number. “There needs to be a policy in this regard which we have not yet framed.”
