The federal government has underscored that the effective implementation of housing policy is its paramount priority for achieving tangible results, reaffirming its strong resolve to tackle the challenges within Pakistan”s housing sector through comprehensive reforms and targeted initiatives.
This determination was articulated by Riaz Hussain Pirzada, the Minister for Housing and Works, during a meeting with Ms Kazuko Ishigaki, the UN-Habitat Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, who called on him in the nation’s capital today.
The federal minister welcomed the regional director and expressed his appreciation for the organisation”s consistent assistance to Pakistan in the fields of housing and sustainable urban development.
Mr Pirzada specifically acknowledged UN-Habitat”s valuable technical contributions to the formulation of the National Housing Policy, 2025 and its continued support during post-flood recovery efforts, particularly in bolstering urban, land, and housing infrastructure.
In her remarks, Ms Ishigaki stressed the importance of strengthened strategic planning, effective zoning, and regulatory overhauls to enable sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient urban growth. She noted that housing is a critical foundation for national development and a top priority in the implementation of the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026-2029.
The Ministry of Housing and Works” Secretary informed the regional director that the National Housing Policy is in its final stage of approval. He clarified that the government intends to place a strong emphasis on green building standards and incentive-based frameworks to accelerate growth in the housing and urban development sectors.
Ms Ishigaki confirmed UN-Habitat”s readiness to extend its full support for green building initiatives, citing the organisation”s decade-long experience in promoting sustainable construction practices designed to mitigate the environmental impacts of conventional building methods.
She reaffirmed UN-Habitat’s commitment to providing technical and policy support, including resource mobilisation, and to continue collaborating with Pakistan to advance integrated housing solutions that are resilient, affordable, and adequately serviced.