PESHAWAR
The rapid rise in population, combined with soaring property prices and inflation, has exacerbated the housing problems for low-income groups in urban areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where about 2.5 houses are required for homeless and underprivileged.
As Pakistan’s population surpasses the 241 million mark this year, the demand for affordable housing reached critical levels in KP, with an estimated 2.5 million additional units needed to fulfill people requirements.
The challenges are particularly acute for those in the salary class and marginalized communities, who find themselves increasingly priced out of the housing market. Rising land costs and limited economic supply have turned the dream of affordable housing into a harsh reality for many, leaving poor families struggling to find safe and secure homes.
Despite recent economic strides made by the newly elected government since February 8, addressing the housing shortfall remains a formidable task. Officials recognize the urgency, yet progress is hindered by factors such as inadequate infrastructure, bureaucratic hurdles, and limited financial resources.
Local residents while sharing their frustrations said, “every month, I see my rent increase while my salary remains the same,” says Meena Gul, a schoolteacher in Peshawar. “It feels impossible to save for a house of my own.” Like Meena Gul, many face the grim reality of living in overcrowded conditions or commuting long distances to affordable areas in KP.
“Affordable housing is the fundamental right of all citizens of Pakistan where rapid population growth, fast migration from rural to urban areas, high construction and land cost factors have largely contributed to houses backlog,” said Professor Dr Naeem Khattak, former Chairman, Economics Department, University of Pakistan while talking to APP.
“Globally, many Govts have attempted an alternative approach where they provide affordable housing at urban peripheries, encouraging residents to relocate where land is cheaper. However, this approach has created its own problems as people are cut off from social and infrastructure networks as well as gainful employment opportunities,” he said.
He said this has led to negative consequences in low- and middle-income countries, where some cities are growing so quickly that governments cannot build services, roads and infrastructure fast enough to accommodate new arrivals, leading to a proliferation of slums at the peripheries.
The repeated change of governments, political instability and unchecked rise of prices of lands and properties in Pakistan including Khyber Pakthunkhwa made affordable houses in urban areas for salaried class and under privileged merely a dream and solid policies are required to clear this huge backlog.
Dr Naeem said the rapid urbanization of the agricultural land have turned the fertile land into unplanned towns and societies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad, Swat, Kohat, DI Khan and Nowshera districts.
He said the current demand for new housing units was growing at the rate of 600,000 houses per year and if we add 0.5 million more houses, then 1.1 million units per year would be required to clear the existing backlog of 10 million houses in the next 14 years.
The housing gap in Punjab is estimated at 2.3 million units in 2017 and was expected to skyrocket to 11.3 million units by 2047, he said, adding half of all urban households are overcrowded or lived in informal settlements with inadequate access to basic infrastructure, civic facilities and services while formal housing are almost out of reach of the poor people.
In Peshawar, he claimed that housing problems would further aggravate where the urban population had reached 1.970 million and estimated to reach up to 2.80 million by 2030, that would eat up more agricultural land.
As a result of the shortage of housing units, the price of a five marla house in Peshawar has crossed Rs 20 million and the rent to Rs 40,000 that was beyond the purchasing capacity of a common man and low paid employees.
Ikhtair Wali, spokesman of PML-N told APP that PTI government has made tall claims to construct 5 million houses but failed to complete its promises, adding poor housing policies of PTI rulers increased housing problem and property prices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Instead to address public problems, he claimed that taxpayers money are being wasted in KP on uncalled for public gathering at Islamabad and Lahore.
The Provincial Housing Authority (PHA)’s sources told APP that a survey regarding shortfall of houses was conducted under Naya Pakistan Housing Program that revealed that five million houses of five marla were required in Pakistan including 7,50,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Approximately 2,62,500 kanal land is needed for the construction of these five marla housing units in KP while Peshawar requires 104, 897 houses while Mardan 58,309 houses and Swat 65,749 houses respectively.
About 39,981 housing units are needed in DI Khan, 39,919 in Swabi, 39,712 in Charsadda, 38,244 in Mansehra, 37, 313 in Nowshera and 35, 282 in Lower Dir, he told and added that about 32,751 were needed in Abbottabad, 28,697 in Bannu, 24,646 in Haripur, 24,421 in Kohat, 23,255 in Upper Dir, 20,048 in Buner, 21,529 in Lakki Marwat, 19,281 in Kohistan, 18620 in Shangla, 17,699 in Malakand, 17,355 in Karak, 17,748 in Hangu, 11,711 in Batagram, 10,992 in Chitral, 9,629 in Tank and 4,211 in Torghar.
Approximately 6,500 kanal land are available in Peshawar, 560 kanal in Swat, 377 kanal in Charsadda, 300 kanal and 8,300 land in Hangu for the construction of affordable houses.
Alaike, 15 housing projects including Hangu Township on 8,400 kanal and Jalozai Phase III at Nowshera launched, adding that 10,500 housing units in Hangu would be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs10 billion in next three to five years.
As many as 900 residential flats would be constructed in three highrise buildings at Nishtarabad, Warsak-I and Warsak-II in Peshawar. Consultants have been for Warsak-I covering 4.14 kanal and Warsak-II of 3.8 kanal costing Rs3,500 million. A 20 storied highrise building on 36 kanal would be constructed at Nishtarabad in Peshawar City where 300 low-cost residential flats to be built for the underprivileged and poor families.
Similarly, 2,056 residential flats are constructed for industrial workers with an estimated cost of Rs5.93 billion at Shahi Bala. Rehman Baba Complex Peshawar will be constructed on 79 kanal where 2,180 residential flats to be built in three years.
Jalozai housing project in Nowshera is being constructed on 8,400 kanal where about 9,000 housing units would be built besides 1, 300 residential flats for labourers and the general public.
Under PHA Foundation and KP government’s joint venture project, as many as 8, 000 low-cost housing units in the first phase would be constructed at Surizai Peshawar. Danigram project Swat covering 70 kanal is constructed where quota allocated for widows, persons with disabilities and media professionals.
The feasibility study and design of new Peshawar housing project would soon be completed while its preliminary zoning plan had already been prepared. The deputy commissioners Peshawar and Nowshera completed verification of 6,571 kanal land.
Waqas said high rise buildings having 140 residential flats are being constructed at Hayatabad and that flats on 331 kanal at Civil Quarters Peshawar were constructed while work on its second phase accelerated.
Besides constructing residential flats in Mardan and Pabbi Nowshera, he said a residential colony at Dheri Zardad in Charsadda is being launched where 53 housing units in first phase would be built. Mulazai housing project costing Rs 260 million completed in Peshawar where construction of houses started.
Over 80pc work on Jerma housing project Kohat having 463 plots completed besides development of 219 residential plots on 218 kanal at Havalian township Abbottabad.
Similarly 1,320 low-cost flats are being constructed in Jalozai Nowshera benefiting over 40,000 poorer and labourers, adding 300,000 subsidy is being provided to each beneficiary.
The cost of each flat is Rs 2.5 million that will be provided to people on Rs 2.2 million. The Bank of Khyber (BoK) was providing soft loans to beneficiaries for its construction.
