A delegation from the UN-Habitat Headquarters held a meeting with the Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada today at the Ministry of Housing and Works. Key officials from the ministry, including Secretary Hamed Yaqub Sheikh, Director General of FGEHA, CEO of Pakistan Infrastructure Company Limited, and Director Policy and Planning Wing, also participated in the meeting.
The UN-Habitat delegation included Ms. Ombretta Tempra, head of the mission and Chief Land Housing and Shelter Section; Mr. John Taylor, Chief Technical Advisor UN-Habitat Pakistan; and Mr. Jawed Ali Khan, Country Head UN-Habitat Pakistan.
Minister welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for UN-Habitat’s continued support in addressing Pakistan’s housing challenges. He highlighted the urgent need for affordable housing solutions aligned with national development priorities keeping in view the best practical solutions globally.
During the meeting, a comprehensive presentation was delivered outlining ministry’s mandate, initiatives, and underscoring Pakistan’s national housing deficit of approximately 10 million units. It was elaborated that high land costs, technical complexities, limited access to mortgage finance, and the need to promote vertical housing to maximize land efficiency are the recent challenges in the housing sector.
Ms. Ombretta Tempra stressed the importance of affordable housing for low-income and marginalized communities. Drawing from global best practices in Nairobi and China, she proposed innovative financing models such as mortgages, bank guarantees, microfinancing, and rental housing—highlighting rental housing as a growing global trend for affordability.
UN-Habitat expressed its commitment to supporting the review of Pakistan’s draft National Housing Policy 2025, in consultation with the World Bank and other international partners. It was recommended that the World Bank be approached for financial support following the policy review, as UN-Habitat primarily serves as a technical partner. It was also agreed upon that a joint consultative session will be held three weeks after the policy review to explore further collaboration opportunities and an urban regeneration pilot project potentially focused on rental housing, will be launched in the Federal Capital Territory based on successful global models.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to enhancing cooperation for sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient housing solutions in Pakistan.
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