- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada on Friday met with a delegation from UN-Habitat to discuss strategies for addressing Pakistan’s affordable housing challenges in a high-level meeting held at the Ministry of Housing and Works.
Federal Minister welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for UN-Habitat’s continued support in tackling the country’s housing crisis.
He emphasized the urgent need for affordable housing solutions aligned with national development priorities and guided by global best practices.
A comprehensive presentation was delivered during the session, outlining the Ministry’s mandate and ongoing initiatives.
It highlighted Pakistan’s national housing deficit of approximately 10 million units, and detailed several pressing challenges in the sector—such as high land costs, technical complexities, limited access to mortgage financing, and the need to promote vertical housing to maximize land use efficiency.
Ombretta Tempra stressed the importance of affordable housing for low-income and marginalized communities.
Drawing on global case studies from Nairobi and China, she proposed innovative financing models, including mortgages, bank guarantees, microfinancing, and particularly, rental housing—which she identified as a growing global trend for enhancing affordability.
UN-Habitat reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the review of Pakistan’s draft National Housing Policy 2025, in collaboration with the World Bank and other international development partners. It was suggested that the World Bank be approached for financial assistance following the policy’s review, as UN-Habitat will continue serving as a technical partner.
It was also agreed that a joint consultative session will be held three weeks after the policy review to explore further avenues for collaboration.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Secretary Hamed Yaqub Sheikh, Director General of FGEHA, CEO of Pakistan Infrastructure Company Limited, and the Director of the Policy and Planning Wing.
The UN-Habitat delegation comprised Ombretta Tempra, Head of Mission and Chief of the Land, Housing and Shelter Section; John Taylor, Chief Technical Advisor for UN-Habitat Pakistan; and Jawed Ali Khan, Country Head of UN-Habitat Pakistan.
Moreover, an urban regeneration pilot project, potentially centered around rental housing, is expected to be launched in the Federal Capital Territory, based on successful international models.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation for sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient housing solutions in Pakistan.