UN-Habitat Briefs Development Partners on Pakistan’s National Housing Policy 2025, Highlights Opportunities for Collaboration
Islamabad, 21 October 2026 – UN-Habitat Pakistan briefed representatives of United Nations agencies, international financial institutions and development partners on the Government of Pakistan’s newly launched National Housing Policy 2025 during a meeting of the UN and Development Partners Group, convened by the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office. The briefing highlighted the policy’s strategic priorities and explored opportunities for collaboration to advance adequate, affordable, inclusive and climate-resilient housing across Pakistan.
Developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Housing and Works, the National Housing Policy 2025 represents the first major update to Pakistan’s national housing framework in nearly twentyfive years. It provides a strategic roadmap for addressing the country’s housing challenges, responding to rapid urbanisation and promoting sustainable urban development. During the session, Hamid Mumtaz, Deputy Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Pakistan, presented the policy’s vision, priorities and implementation framework.
He highlighted the growing housing deficit, inadequate access to basic services and increasing vulnerability of communities to floods, earthquakes and other climate-related hazards. Attention was given to the housing needs of lowincome households and vulnerable and underserved communities. The presentation outlined five key policy priorities, covering nine themes: affordable and inclusive housing, sustainable land use and urban development, improved access to housing finance, climate and disaster resilience, and strengthened construction standards and institutional capacities. These priorities aim to improve living conditions, promote social inclusion and support safer, more resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements.
A central focus of the briefing was the policy’s emphasis on people-centred and integrated urban development. This includes promoting compact and mixed-use neighbourhoods, strengthening connections between housing, infrastructure and basic services, and advancing participatory settlement upgrading and urban regeneration. The policy recognizes that adequate housing goes beyond providing shelter and requires access to essential services, livelihoods and economic opportunities.
The briefing also highlighted the importance of climate-responsive planning, risk-informed development and coordinated implementation at federal, provincial and local levels. Participants discussed opportunities for technical and financial collaboration, including strengthening provincial implementation capacities, mobilizing housing finance, improving housing data systems and supporting climate-resilient housing solutions.
The discussions underscored the importance of partnerships in translating national policy priorities into practical solutions that respond to the needs of communities. UN-Habitat reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Government of Pakistan in advancing the National Housing Policy 2025, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 11 and the New Urban Agenda and promoting adequate housing for all while ensuring that no one and no place is left behind.