Housing affordability has been remained the illuminating agenda of every government, but the factual targeted demand was never addressed due to number of challenges and constraints. Often, the development of such project worked exclusively, rather not integrating the other dimensions. In light to cater the gap, this paper exhibits the path that can lay the foundations to achieve affordable housing in a sustainable way by integrating the finance, design standards and pricing. While the further light has been put upon the fundamental principles and their implications to accomplish affordable housing by adopting successful simplified and integrated design models for housing projects in Pakistan. Whereas, the affordability must be combined with the cost recovery for sustainable and replicable housing projects in case of non-existence of development grant and least / zero interest loans. The multiple variables should be kept in mind to attain the successful housing projects such as realistic demand and supply, developer and housing finance options, construction marketability, effective and efficient planning and development standards, and demanding legislative and institutional framework etc. However, this paper briefly exhibits the innovative models for affordable housing, being implemented globally, to be adopted in Pakistan to address the housing challenges. Through investigating the numerous alternatives models by using different planning and development standards along with the financing options, this paper also describes the way forward to accomplish the affordable housing projects.

Housing affordability refers to as the individual’s ability to buy or rent a housing according to their demand and need. As affordability is a relative concept that is linked with the multiple indicators such as quality, pricing, location and other associated costs and benefits etc., that’s why there is no difference and solid definition of housing affordability. However, the researchers and professionals considered housing as affordable only if it consumes 20 to 40 percent of monthly household gross income, either as rent, mortgage or maintenance cost etc. whereas the minimum space can vary from 250 to 500 square feet, based on the requirement, needs and standards. Housing has been categorized in to broad categories; quantity and quality. Housing quantity refers to the number of housing units, future demand and current housing backlog etc., whereas the housing quality depend upon the livability conditions and circumstances such as the construction material of roof, floors and walls, proper ventilations, access to quality drinking water and other utilities services etc.