Addressing the Affordable Housing Challenges for Urban Poor in Pakistan

Abstract

The rapid growth of urbanization has resulted in tremendous pressure on housing in urban areas, particularly for middle- and lower-income groups. The formal sector has been unable to cater to the affordable housing demand, particularly for urban poor. Islamabad is the planned city and capital of Pakistan; its development started in 1960. A number of squatter settlements have emerged in this planned city which are increasing with the passage of time. The government of Pakistan, realizing the gravity of the problem, started various programs and approached at different times to address this issue. This paper discusses various international and national approaches in this context. Squatter settlements in Islamabad have been visited, and field data were collected through a survey from France Colony Sector F-7/4, Islamabad and recommendations have been suggested in the light of international practices.

Placemaking in Informal Settlements: The Case of France Colony, Islamabad, Pakistan

“…Being nestled in a formal residential area from three sides is the reason for the inhabitants of France Colony being predominantly employed as domestic workers in the richer neighbourhoods in close proximity. Some work as employees in the nearby government departments [49].…”

Beneficiary Expectation from Low-Income Housing Projects: A Post-Occupancy Evaluation Study from Punjab, Pakistan

“…The underperforming housing sector of Pakistan has produced speculation among the public that the state government has launched affordable housing programs only to showcase social empathy at a grassroots level rather than to improve the livelihoods of low-income groups (Malik et al, 2020). To keep pace with rapidly increasing urban growth, Zafar, Waheed, & Javaid, (2019) stressed that government must immediately prefer affordable housing projects to be located near work locations of low-income people to stop the emergence of squatter settlements in the future. This study presents the comparative analysis of low-income housing projects in urban Punjab, from two different cities i.e., Lahore as the capital and Faisalabad as the secondary city.…”