ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The first Asia-Pacific ministerial conference on housing and human settlements will be held in New Delhi next week.

According to a press release issued here on Friday, Federal Minister for Housing and Works Syed Safwanullah and Salim Iqbal, director-general National Housing Authority, will leave Karachi for New Delhi on Dec 11, to participate in the four-day conference.

The conference, being co-sponsored by the United Nations Habitat, is likely to be attended by representatives from 69 countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

It aims at addressing the challenges of urbanisation, housing and habitat management, millennium development goals, urban poverty and slum development with a view to developing strategies and policies for integrated development.

The participants will share their experiences and knowledge on various issues pertaining to land and house financing.