Karachi: Housing quality and living conditions in Pakistan reveal significant disparities between urban and rural areas, with differences in homeownership, building materials, overcrowding, and access to basic amenities, according to Gallup Pakistan’s analysis of the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) 2024-25. The report underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to improve housing resilience and affordability in rural areas.

According to Gallup Pakistan’s Big Data Analysis Series, initiated by Executive Director Bilal I. Gilani, the report evaluates various factors affecting housing quality and living conditions, including homeownership rates, building materials, room sizes, and access to basic amenities. The series aims to bridge the gap in data accessibility and its translation into policy and public discourse. The findings highlight a significant urban-rural divide in homeownership, with urban areas showing a 52% homeownership rate compared to 39% in rural regions. The report also emphasizes the vulnerability of renters, particularly in rural areas, in the aftermath of natural disasters such as floods.

The survey details that urban homes are predominantly constructed with concrete or brick, with 85% using these durable materials, while rural homes largely rely on mud or thatch, with 63% adopting these less durable options. This disparity in construction materials contributes to the heightened vulnerability of rural homes to environmental hazards. Additionally, overcrowding remains a critical issue, with 22% of rural households experiencing overcrowded living conditions compared to 15% of urban households, exacerbating living standards in rural areas.

Access to basic amenities also shows stark differences, with only 50% of rural households having access to clean drinking water, in contrast to 85% in urban areas. Furthermore, 35% of rural households lack electricity, compared to a mere 5% in urban regions. These infrastructure disparities underscore the pressing need for targeted investments to improve rural living conditions. The report calls for policy measures to enhance housing quality and access to amenities, particularly in rural areas, to address the existing inequalities and improve overall well-being in Pakistan.