The Concept of Affordability and the Affordable Housing in Pakistan

Abstract

In Pakistan, housing and housing affordability is a complex issue with  geo-political, suitable financial product and socio-economic disparities being the predominant challenge. Pronounced  inequalities in income distribution, accelerated urban sprawl especially after the pandemic, and absence of regulatory oversight adds to the housing  crisis. There are constrained financial products that further entrenched socio-spatial disparities and inequalities, particularly for the low-income households. Amongst the other issues, disproportionate and inequitable allocation of infrastructure, land resources and basic services have exacerbated the situation. Post-pandemic economic disruptions have further worsened the precarity of low-income, marginalised and vulnerable households. The proliferation of slums and informal settlements in the periphery of the major cities has been caused due to inaccessible affordable housing. The housing deficit in Pakistan has now surpassed ten million units and disproportionately impacts rural and peri-urban areas and marginalised and low- and middle-income households. This study, as a review of the previous literature, uses a rigorous analytical framework to identify the complex elements of housing affordability within Pakistan's social, geo-political and fiscal milieu. This study   synthesises insights from the global best practice to explores and delineates strategic interventions. It advocates the use of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methodology for calibration of zoning and land-use regulations, formulation of integrative financing tools and mechanisms. This study contributes to scholarly discourses on sustainable urbanism through a holistic conceptualization of affordability as an intersectional construct. It concludes with a robust policy framework for addressing Pakistan's enduring housing crisis.