Low-Cost Housing Schemes:
Pakistan has been standing up to the inadequacy of housing units like any other underdeveloped country across the world. The enormous deficiency is rapidly increasing; in 1998 the housing stock was 19.2 million whereas the shortage was about 4.3 million. According to the population poll of 2017, it reaches 32.2 million as housing stocks, whereas the shortage increased to 10 million and currently the housing deficiency reaches to more than 12 million (World Bank 2018).
The housing industry remained neglected by all stakeholders including the government itself in the past. If at all the leadership got any attention, it ends up as mere political rhetoric. Even though the work was done, it didn’t go beyond a certain desire or discussion and didn’t even set a drafting table. The fate of the few launched housing schemes for the low-income populace created an environment of mistrust. The bold initiative taken by the current political party for the construction industry especially towards the construction of Low-cost housing units for underprivileged citizens by giving them a chance to have their own home.
This dictates the identification of risk factors associated with the failure of low-cost housing schemes launched previously. These factors need to be analyzed thoroughly for the success of the initiative taken thus keeping a strong sociopolitical relation. The procedure for the low-cost housing scheme presented by NAPHDA was explored.
The study is encompassed by a poll-based survey comprising variables placed using the Relative Importance Index (RII). The results of this investigation allow appropriation by the customers, contractors, and employees and suggest bold dynamic measures to manage these identified risks for the achievement of the planned project.
The Universal Declaration from 1948 and the International Covenant on Financial, social, and Cultural Rights from 1966 both state that everyone has the right to adequate housing as a fundamental human right. Many essential rights, including the right to live and work, school, health, and security, are violated when the right to adequate housing is not recognized, protected, and fulfilled (UN habitat fact sheet no 21, 2014).
2 million people are forced away from their homes every year; 150 million people are homeless; one in four people live in unsafe, unhealthy, and unsanitary conditions; and 1.8 billion people globally need suitable housing. With current estimates, around 3 billion people, or nearly 40% of the world’s population, will be in need of suitable housing by 2030. All of this adds up to a daily construction requirement of approximately 96,000 homes in place to evade the current predicament.
Housing is a basic human need, yet in Pakistan, millions of people are still unable to afford a roof over their heads. Despite its importance and reputation, Pakistan’s housing sector has remained mostly ignored and has not received even a moderate allotment of public sector resources.
The rapid urbanization process has resulted in congestion of cities and environmental degradation. Overcrowding, inadequate sewerage, pollution, and poor building construction are all evident in the country’s current housing circumstances, which give neither security of tenure nor protection from weather extremes.
This basic human need is felt all the more at the lowest section of the pyramid, including monetarily underserved parts of society. It is estimated that annually new houses need about 700,000 people a year, but only roughly a part of this is accomplished. The total housing shortage is estimated to increase to 10 million units.
The housing shortage in Pakistan is a result of both a lack of supply and a lack of affordability for those with the lowest incomes, as can be seen by the severity of the situation. PTI’s election manifesto included a proposal for the Naya Pakistan housing policy to address the issue.
PTI has promised to build five million homes in the next five years as part of an economic regeneration agenda. Prime Minister, Imran Khan, introduced the Naya Pakistan Housing Project on October 10th, 2018, he stated that “the aim of this (plan) is the common guy who could not even dream of having a house” as a means of helping the country’s wounded economy. The dawn of the year 2018.