In Islamabad on February 10, 2026, Ms. Kazuko Ishigaki, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at UN-Habitat, held a strategic meeting with Federal Minister for Housing & Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada at the Ministry of Housing & Works to chart a path for stronger cooperation on housing and urban development.
The Federal Minister welcomed UN-Habitat’s steady support and underlined the scale of Pakistan’s housing challenge, reiterating the government’s resolve to tackle the crisis through robust policy reform and targeted housing initiatives. He stressed that while sound policy is essential, effective implementation is the decisive factor for delivering homes and services to communities.
The Minister acknowledged UN-Habitat’s technical contributions to the National Housing Policy 2025 and its role in post-flood recovery efforts, particularly in shaping urban, land and housing measures and infrastructure priorities. Secretary Ministry of Housing & Works, Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Mehmood, informed the delegation that the National Housing Policy is at its final approval stage and that the government will prioritise green building standards and incentive-based frameworks to accelerate sustainable growth in the housing sector.
Ms. Ishigaki emphasised the need for strengthened strategic planning, effective zoning and regulatory reform to enable inclusive, climate-resilient urban development. She highlighted implementation of the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026–2029 as a core agenda, with housing recognised as a foundational element for community stability and national progress, and reiterated UN-Habitat’s readiness to provide technical assistance and help mobilise resources for affordable, climate-resilient housing projects.
The meeting was attended by the Additional Secretary Housing, the Deputy Director General (Planning & Policy Wing) and Mr. Jawad Ali Khan, Senior Advisor to UN-Habitat. Ms. Ishigaki extended an invitation to the Federal Minister to participate in the UN World Urban Forum scheduled for May 2026 in Azerbaijan, an event both parties see as valuable for advancing collaborative initiatives.
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation to translate housing policy into concrete action across Pakistan, with a focus on incentive mechanisms, green building adoption and strengthened regulatory frameworks to improve housing outcomes and urban resilience nationwide.
