ASIA PASIFIC – SLUMS & URBAN CONGESTION

The presentation deals with the challenges to urban planners in solving the slums & urban congestion, particularly in the Muslim world. It states that the Muslim world represents   1 of 4 humans on the planet, reflecting almost the same number-ratio of the countries on the globe. Muslim countries also represent 1 out of 2  poor on the planet. This is a great challenge for Muslim socio-political activists because of the widening demand/supply gap, adding to the already existing housing backlog. Most of the housing backlog and short supply is in the low-income segment of the population. Population growth and urbanization are further compounding the existing urban housing backlog. Rising costs (land, construction, construction materials, etc.) are making housing unaffordable for the poor.