Pakistan’s population expansion and rapid urbanization have left a growing number of people without access to decent, stable, affordable housing. The last census, in 2017, documents a housing stock of 32.2 million, of which 39% is urban. The urban population is expected to grow by 2.3 million people per year over the next 20 years. This translates into the demand for 360,000 households, at 6.3 individuals per household.

Poor access to affordable housing is also reflected in unequal home ownership: ownership remains concentrated in the top income bracket, leaving a limited supply of housing for low-income households. Housing insecurity among the bottom-income strata of Pakistan has therefore become a compelling public policy issue.