PESHAWAR, Dec 28 (APP):As political temperatures rise after CM Afridi uncalled for visit to Lahore, residents and economic of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) said their most pressing concerns such as security, soaring prices of edible commodities, and an acute housing shortage are being pushed to the sidelines.
Political and economic analysts have urged Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to focus his energy on resolving KP’s internal challenges rather than engaging in political agitation activities outside the province.
They argued that KP is grappling with multiple crises that directly affect everyday life, including terrorism, inflation, corruption, and a widening housing gap that has left millions struggling for shelter especially in urban and flood hit areas.
At a time when the province has witnessed an uptick in terrorism incidents and bomb blasts, critics described recent uncalled for political engagements outside KP by CM Afridi as misplaced priorities, calling for urgent governance at home instead of symbolic gestures aimed at gaining media attention.
The housing crisis in KP has reached alarming proportions in wake of population buldge. With rapid population growth, rising urban migration, and skyrocketing land prices, affordable housing has become an unattainable dream for many low-income families and salaried workers.
According to housing development estimates, KP requires approximately 2.5 million additional housing units to meet current demand. As Pakistan’s population crosses 250 million, the gap between housing supply and demand continues to widen particularly in urban centers such as Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad, and Swat.
For thousands of families, renting has become a lifelong burden.
“Every month my rent increases, but my salary stays the same,” said Umar Khan, an employee of a government department in Peshawar.
“Saving for a house feels impossible in the wake of soaring prices of daily uses commodities. I don’t know how long we can survive like this.”
Many residents are forced to live in overcrowded homes or commute long distances from city outskirts, where rents are slightly cheaper but access to jobs, schools, and healthcare remains limited.
“Affordable housing is a fundamental right of every citizen and it was prime responsibility of KP Govt to provide it to its citizens,” said Professor Dr. Muammad Naeem, former Chairman of the Economics Department at the University of Pakistan. He attributed the housing crisis to unchecked population growth, rural-to-urban migration, ill policies and speculative land pricing.
Dr. Naeem warned that relocating low-income families to city outskirts without proper planning often worsens social inequality and transport problems.
“People become disconnected from employment opportunities, essential services, and social networks, creating new economic and social problems,” he said.
He added that political agitation and frequent changes of CM in KP have further stalled long-term housing policies, allowing property prices to spiral out of control.
Peshawar, now home to more than 1.97 million people, is projected to reach 2.8 million by 2030. This rapid expansion has already led to the conversion of fertile agricultural land into unplanned housing schemes, raising concerns over food security and environmental sustainability.
Housing costs reflect the crisis starkly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The price of a five-marla house in Peshawar has surged to Rs 20 million, while average monthly rents have climbed to Rs 40,000 which is well beyond the reach of low-income earners.
Sahibzada Hamaza, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nowshera President, accused the PTI-led government of failing to fulfill its promise of constructing five million houses nationwide.
“Instead of addressing public hardships, taxpayers’ money was spent on unnecessary political gatherings and agitation,” he claimed.
He said that the way CM KP and his Cabinet members behave at Punjab Assembly it was beyond democratic norms.
A survey conducted by the Provincial Housing Authority (PHA) under the Naya Pakistan Housing Program identified a shortfall of 750,000 houses in KP alone. According to PHA officials, approximately 262,500 kanals of land would be required to bridge this gap. Peshawar needs over 104,000 housing units, while districts like Mardan and Swat each require more than 60,000 homes.
The slow pace work on Hangu township, Jalozai Phase III in Nowshera, residential flats in Peshawar, and a 20-storey high-rise building in Nishtarabad’s low-cost flats for underprivileged families needs to be accelerated.
The Surizai Housing Project, which aims to construct 8,000 low-cost units in its first phase yet to complete.
“To clear the housing backlog, KP Govt needs over 1.1 million housing units annually for the next 14 years,” Dr. Naeem emphasized. “This requires sustainable planning, better land use, financial support for low-income buyers, and serious political commitment.”
As rents rise, land prices soar, and security concerns persist, millions of KP residents continue to wait for meaningful action.
For families struggling to secure a roof over their heads, housing is no longer just an economic issue rather it is a question of dignity, stability, and survival.
Whether the KP government can turn promises into reality remains to be seen in near future.
