ISLAMABAD: The government will establish a ‘Construction Sector Development Board to regulate and manage the real estate sector.

It has allocated Rs18.55 billion to focus on the provision and expansion of sustainable and affordable urban municipal services and housing facilities in collaboration with the private sector.

According to the annual plan document, the housing sector will be developed keeping in view increasing urbanisation and growth in population. A modern ‘Housing Information System’ will be established to provide data on housing demand and supply.

The private sector will be encouraged and facilitated to transform ‘katchi abadis’ into adequate sustainable settlements through the provision of low-cost and low-income housing, along with adequate allied infrastructure, like sewerage, clean water, gas and electricity.

The federal government will facilitate and support provincial and regional governments to shift the development trend towards vertical expansion, especially in the city centres to provide adequate and affordable residential facilities in addition to commercial space to citizens.

According to the document, zoning laws will be revised to cater to the growing demand for commercial and parking space in large urban centres. This will involve use of ‘mixed use’ areas – residential and commercial.

Decent and affordable mass transit systems along the pedestrian networks will gradually be established in all mega cities and rapidly growing secondary cities in a phased manner to transform Pakistani cities into cleaner and eco-friendly cities.

The community-based participation will be promoted to transform cities into ‘creative’ cities, where local and innovative solutions are found to local problems through community organisations in collaboration with the city governments.

These improvements will be the first step in developing ‘smart cities’ – cities that are capable of adapting to increase complexity and demand for knowledge communication given urban expansion.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2016