Home-ownership is considered a benchmark of stable living. Families living in their own houses lead a rather uniform life compared to those who don’t own their own homes. The financial status of homeless families is prone to deteriorate, psychologically they suffer, and more instability disturbs them further. According to the 7th Population and Housing Census 2023 (the most recent official data), approximately 7 million households in Pakistan live in rented homes. This represents 13.6% of total households in the country.

If we look at the biggest population-wise province, Punjab, the challenge is widespread. The rental rate in urban Punjab is significantly higher than the provincial average, driven by migration to major hubs like Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Multan. Northern parts of Punjab sometimes show even higher concentrations of population (>30% in some areas per mapping).

Successive governments repeatedly announced grand state-led construction projects — from the Apni Basti scheme of the 1980s to the Ashiana project and the ambitious Naya Pakistan Housing Program — yet most delivered only a fraction of the target.

Successive governments repeatedly announced grand state-led construction projects — from the Apni Basti scheme of the 1980s to the Ashiana project and the ambitious Naya Pakistan Housing Program — yet most delivered only a fraction of the target.

Imagine a big city neighbourhood in Lahore, Faisalabad or Rawalpindi, in every 100 houses you see, around 21 to 23 are rented, the........

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