Federal Minister hails new National Housing Policy 2026 as historic milestone
ISLAMABAD, August 11, 2026: Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada has welcomed the approval of the National Housing Policy 2026, describing it as a historic milestone for Pakistan’s housing and urban development sector.
The policy was approved by the Federal Cabinet during its latest meeting, providing Pakistan with an updated national framework for housing and urban planning after nearly 25 years. The country’s previous national housing policy was approved in 2001.
Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Works congratulated the ministry’s Policy and Planning Wing for preparing the policy document. They appreciated the team’s efforts and said consultations were carried out with major stakeholders during the formulation process.
New Framework for Housing and Urban Development
The National Housing Policy 2026 aims to establish a coordinated, inclusive and sustainable approach to tackling Pakistan’s growing housing and urban development challenges.
Its central vision is to promote adequate, affordable and sustainable housing for all, while improving access to housing opportunities, basic amenities and supporting infrastructure.
The policy identifies nine strategic areas considered essential for the development of Pakistan’s housing sector.
These include:
- Land for housing
- Housing finance
- Construction services
- Technology and building materials
- Development of intermediate and secondary towns
- Slums, katchi abadis and squatter settlements
- Affordable housing
- Low-income, low-cost and rural housing
- Capacity building and knowledge sharing
Focus on Affordable and Climate-Resilient Housing
The new policy also covers land availability, housing finance, modern construction technologies, balanced urban development and institutional and legal reforms.
Special attention has been given to low-income and rural communities, along with climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable housing solutions.
The housing minister said the policy would provide strategic direction for addressing Pakistan’s housing shortage while helping the country respond to emerging urbanization challenges.
The approval of the National Housing Policy 2026 is expected to provide a long-term policy framework for improving housing opportunities and supporting more organized and sustainable urban development across Pakistan.
The Ministry of Housing and Works has made the draft National Housing Policy 2026 available on its official website for public information and reference.