Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its subsequent reaffirmation at the 1996 UN Habitat Conference, “Adequate Shelter for All” has been recognized as a basic human need. All Governments have a responsibility to take appropriate action in order to promote the protection and ensure the proper realization of the provision of adequate housing for its citizens. The housing situation in Pakistan has continuously deteriorated over the past many years and most of the policies announced were not implemented, the latest being the 1992 Housing Policy.

Realizing the fact that Housing is one of the major pillars of the macro-economy and that there is continuous degradation of housing quality and an ever-increasing shortfall in housing stock, the Government decided to review various measures and policies formulated in the past in order to come up with such policy measures which are pragmatic and implementable. The emphasis of the Government would be to focus on the fundamental requirements of creating a favorable and conducive environment in the country and to promote and facilitate this sector where the role of the Government would change from provider to facilitator.