According to a UN report, Pakistan’s population is expected to reach 242 million by 2025. With the expected trajectory in population, the government will need to address the growing housing and urban needs before the situation worsens. The haphazard growth of cities must be controlled.
It has been projected that urban areas will accommodate 250 million people by 2030. Currently, 36.7 percent of the population resides in urban areas and the ratio will increase to 50 percent by 2050. The urban population is growing at a rate of 3 percent annually and slum population is also rising rapidly. Hence, there is an urgent need to improve the living conditions in cities and also plan for the future.
The prime minister has called for the early completion of master plans for ten cities to check unplanned expansion as well as specify separate areas for farming, accommodation, and business activities. He said the government is revising the master plan of all major cities as expansion places a burden on electricity, water, sewerage and sanitation services while endangering the environment.
The government had promised to provide five million housing as part of its manifesto. The ambitious project started to a low start but has been seen progress. The prime minister allotted 1.500 low-cost houses to the working class but this is just the beginning and a lot more needs to be done. The government has announced a new semi-urban housing project in all districts of Punjab to cater to the growing needs.
The prime minister cited the example of London, New York and Dubai as thriving examples of high-rise living. The vertical expansion of major cities is a solution but it requires changes to housing regulations without burdening civic amenities. The government is also working on mega projects including the Ravi River project, a new planned city, on the outskirts of Lahore and the Central Business District. If these projects are expedited, it will have a huge impact on economic activity in the country.
It is imperative to create an environment that is conducive for the housing sector and other allied industries. The banking sector should also increase the provision of mortgages to buy houses on easy installments. Housing is a necessity and the government has a responsibility to provide it to every citizen.
