By Asim Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada termed the new approved National Housing Policy 2026 a significant achievement and a historic milestone for the Ministry, particularly as Pakistan had been without an updated national housing policy for almost a quarter of a century.
Federal Minister and the Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Works, congratulated the Policy & Planning Wing of the Ministry for its dedicated efforts in preparing the policy document. They appreciated the team’s extensive work and emphasized that efforts had been made to take all major stakeholders on board during the policy formulation process.
Federal Cabinet in its last meeting has approved the National Housing Policy 2026, marking a major milestone for Pakistan’s housing and urban development sector.
The approval comes after nearly 25 years, as the country’s previous National Housing Policy was approved in 2001.
The approval of the National Housing Policy 2026 fulfills a longstanding need for a comprehensive national framework to provide clear strategic direction for the development of the housing and urban planning sectors.
The policy has been formulated to address the diverse and evolving challenges of housing and urban development and to provide a coordinated, inclusive and sustainable approach for the future.
The overarching vision of the policy is to promote adequate, affordable and sustainable housing for all, while ensuring improved access to housing opportunities, basic amenities and supporting infrastructure.
The National Housing Policy 2026 sets out nine clear strategic themes, covering the key dimensions of the housing and urban development sector that also include Land for Housing, Housing Finance, Construction Services, Technology and Building Materials, Development of Intermediate and Secondary Towns, Slums/Katchi Abadis and Squatter Settlements, Affordable Housing, Low-Income, Low-Cost and Rural Housing and Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing.
The policy provides a comprehensive framework covering land availability, housing finance, construction and technology, balanced urban development, low-income and rural housing, institutional and legal reforms, as well as climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable housing.
He emphasized that the policy would provide clear strategic direction for addressing the country’s housing deficit and emerging urban development challenges.
The draft National Housing Policy 2026 is available on the official website of the Ministry of Housing and Works at www.mohw.gov.pk for public information and reference.
