ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that promoting construction sector and providing houses to the poor segments of the society is a national service.

He was chairing weekly meeting of National Coordination Committee on Housing and Construction in Islamabad on Thursday.

The prime minister directed to further accelerate the awareness campaign regarding the easy loans being provided by the banks for construction of houses.

Imran Khan said it is the first time in the country s history that the commercial banks are extending loans to the poor for construction of houses.

Governor State Bank of Pakistan Reza Baqir informed the meeting that the commercial banks through their 7,700 branches across the country have started providing loans to the people for construction of houses.

It was informed that the commercial banks have started receiving loan applications in big numbers.

State Bank of Pakistan has launched a complaint portal to address the public complaints.

The Vice Chairman Lahore Development Authority informed the meeting, a total of thirty five thousand units will be established in LDA city and a major portion will be given to the poor and middle class.

In the initial phase, four thousand units will be constructed. The project will be completed by June 2022. NNI