There are said to be shortage of about 0.3 million units of houses per year in Pakistan in absolute term. If factors relating to annual population growth and replacement of already dilapidated houses are taken into consideration, then yearly shortage would come to as high as 1.2 million units. This is huge by any count, and the situation can be seen as disastrous in socio-economic contest.

The previous unpopular, undemocratic, despotic government of president General Musharraf (though the government should have been identified as of PML-Q!), anyway, considering the gravity of the issue, prepared and promulgated National Housing Policy (2001), and for implementation of the same, established National Housing Authority. During Musharraf’s period, quite some activities could be seen on the Policy and by the Authority. But as we know, most of the activities by the government functionaries are done to ‘look busy’ and for some other ‘considerations’, so any concrete result could not have been expected out of such exercises; and of course Musharraf and his regime might not also be blamed for that!

The Policy, however, seems to be very good, and could have proven catalytic in social, as well as in economic sector, if it could have been followed and implemented with results in mind. The present government (of the poor, by the rich and for the rich), although regularly reminds us, the mere mortals, of its slogan of “home” (makan) and announces ambitious housing schemes for the poor from time to time, yet it remained totally oblivious to the Policy, and has so far seems to have ignored this document. The implementation of this Policy, in my opinion, could have addressed the housing needs of low-income and economically weaker section of the society, of which the present government presents itself as the champion.

On the question of housing finance, State Bank of Pakistan (still a government owned establishment, how so far independence it may claim), however has its own way of looking into the issues. It has established a “Housing Advisory Group” (HAG), and is reportedly working on its recommendations. But anyway, SBP’s main concern, understandably, is arrangement, management and regulation of finance for housing, and the banks involved in this particular activity. SBP cannot be expected to materialize the objectives of the government – that is, reduction/eliminati on of housing shortage in the country, and empowerment of less privileged people for owning a house – depicted by it in its own Policy 2001!

It is suggested that, along with sloganeering on housing, the government should give full focus on the implementation of its own Housing Policy of 2001, either through National Housing Authority or by any other effective means, including SBP’s HAG.

The investigative reporters of the country may also peep into the existence and activities of National Housing Authority, to see if it is doing anything concrete or just drawing hefty pays and perks from the national exchequer!