Islamabad: The Ministry of Housing and Works has released the first draft of the National Housing Policy 2025, marking a significant revision of the previous policy announced in 2001. The draft, prepared by the ministry’s Policy and Planning Wing, aims to address the pressing housing crisis in the country, characterized by a shortage of 10 million housing units and financial constraints driven by rising housing costs.

The policy’s development involved extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including academia, housing experts, and provincial departments. Two working groups of experts conducted focus group discussions to identify gaps in existing policies, which informed the comprehensive draft.

Key objectives of the new policy include mitigating large-scale urban migration and the proliferation of unplanned housing societies, which have resulted in slum areas. The policy outlines a vision of “adequate, affordable and sustainable housing for all” and focuses on nine thematic areas, including microfinancing, disaster management, urban regeneration, and enhanced coordination.

Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, during a meeting to review the draft, highlighted the challenges arising from poor planning and inadequate facilities in small towns. He noted that these factors contribute to massive urban migration, leading to the loss of fertile agricultural land.

Minister Pirzada emphasized the importance of data-driven planning and involving local governments in resolving housing issues. He remarked on the role of provinces in implementing the policy following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, with the federal ministry providing guidelines.

The policy draft represents a strategic effort to tackle the housing challenges by recommending region-specific, sustainable housing models, allowing provincial governments to tailor solutions in accordance with local needs and environmental considerations.