Pakistan is facing a severe housing shortage, with a backlog of over 10 million units and more than half of its urban population living in informal settlements.
This was informed at a National Consultative Workshop on Affordable Housing and Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Rights convened by UN-Habitat Pakistan held in Islamabad on Monday. The workshop brought together government officials, UN representatives, academics, and civil society organizations to address the escalating crisis and explore solutions. Tenure insecurity and outdated land administration practices, despite constitutional safeguards, continue to impede equitable access to housing and land.
John Taylor, Chief Technical Advisor at UN-Habitat Pakistan, and Jawed Ali Khan, Senior Advisor/Habitat Program Manager, stressed the urgent need for collaborative reforms and pledged UN-Habitat”s support for Pakistan through policy guidance, technical assistance, and capacity development to achieve sustainable housing solutions.
Ombretta Tempra, Chief of Land, Housing and Shelter at UN-Habitat, presented global housing and land rights trends and difficulties, noting that 1.6 billion people worldwide face housing affordability constraints, with over 1 billion living in slums. She advocated for secure tenure, land-based financing mechanisms, inclusive zoning, and robust legal frameworks.
Hamid Mumtaz, Deputy Program Manager, UN-Habitat, briefed attendees on Pakistan”s land governance, UN-Habitat’s contribution to land digitization, and women”s land rights after disasters. Waseem Hayat Bajwa, DG, Ministry of Housing and Works, outlined Pakistan”s draft National Housing Policy, which aims to ensure adequate, affordable, and sustainable housing for all, with a focus on planned intermediate towns, climate-resilient construction, and legal reforms such as the Urban Regeneration and Condominium Acts. Ch. Anwar, Chief (Technical), Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, emphasized the necessity of mortgage finance reform and inter-agency coordination. Dr. Khalid Hafiz, Member Planning, CDA, reported on Islamabad’s digitized land records.
Imran Ali Sultan from the Punjab Affordable Housing Program shared Punjab”s progress in developing sustainable communities through digital systems, new laws, and public and private housing initiatives.
A panel discussion centered on enhancing inter-institutional collaboration, harmonizing land and housing policies across governance levels, and promoting inclusive urban planning, public-private partnerships, and a national housing and land database. Securing land tenure and providing legal assistance, especially for vulnerable groups in post-disaster scenarios, were deemed crucial.
Recommendations from the workshop included faster land record digitization, simplified registration procedures, and enacting legislation like the Urban Regeneration and Condominium Acts. The meeting served as a crucial forum for discussion, demonstrating a shared commitment to addressing Pakistan”s housing challenges through concerted efforts, institutional improvements, and technical backing. UN-Habitat reiterated its commitment to working closely with national and provincial partners.