ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Housing and Works has prepared a new housing policy, which pointed out that challenges in the housing sector mainly stem from poor planning and lack of necessary facilities and amenities insmall towns.

`This factor is encouraging massive urban migration causing huge loss of fertile agricultural land,` read the new policy, which also suggested a way forward to bring improvement in the struggling housing sector ofthe country and large-scale urban migration.According to the ministry, the new proposed housing policy aimed to address the factors behind the large-scale urban migration and mushroom growth of unplanned housing societies that lead to slum areas.

`We have prepared a new policy, which will be presentedbefore thefed-eral cabinet soon for approval; today, [the] housing minister got the final briefing,` said an officer of the housing ministry.

The draft policy, according to the housing ministry, outlined the current housing crisis that has been estimated as a shortage of 10 million housing units in thecountry and the financial constraints.

`The Ministry of Housing and Works has unveiled the first draft of National Housing Policy 2025 prepared by its policy and planning wing.

The draft follows the revision of existing housing policy announced in 2001,` said a statement issued by the ministry.

It said that extensive efforts have been made to present this policy by consulting and incorporating inputs from all major stakeholders, including academia, housing experts and provincial departments.

The ministry stated that at the first stage, two working groups of experts participated in focus group discussions to identify current policy gaps. Later, their recommendations were consolidated into a detailed policy draft.

The vision statement of the housing policy is `adequate, affordable and sustainable housing for all`.

It focuses on nine thematic areas and will present policy measures and reforms to address the current challenges by identifying demand and supply gaps and focusing on microfinancing, dependence on locally manufactured material, disaster management, urban regeneration, enhanced coordination and capacity building.

Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada presided over a meeting on Tuesday and got the final briefing on the upcoming policy. It was noted that the challenges in the housing sector mainly stem from poor planning and a lack ofnecessary facilities and amenities in small towns.

This factor is encouraging massive urban migration, causing huge loss of fertile agricultural land.

During the meeting, experts emphasised that agriculture was the major source of sustenance and unplanned housing societies were negatively impacting this sector.

They agreed that maintaining accurate data at the district and municipal levels could be helpful for better planning and reclaiming of land for future housing schemes.

He stressed the critical need for planning and implementation in this policy. He stated: `We are far behind in purposeful planning based on formal studies and database.

The minister added that empowering and involving the local governments could resolve the ongoing housing issuesin the country.

Moreover, according to the press release, the minister underscored that following the 18th Amendment, housing was the responsibility of the provinces.

The ministry`s role is to provide the guidelines through national policy from where the provincial departments will derive their way forward, he said.

Mr Pirzada said: `We cannot recommend a single model of housing for the whole country, but the provincial governments will implement and regulate the policy and they will choose region-specific, sustainable housing models, keeping in view the flora and fauna.