In Islamabad on 25 September 2025, Federal Minister for Housing Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada hosted a delegation from the Asian Development Bank to discuss collaboration on a national Land Data Bank and wider housing sector initiatives. The ADB team included Senior Housing Specialist Mr. Hong Su and ADB Pakistan Resident Mission unit head Mian Shaukat Shafi.
The minister welcomed ADB’s continued support for housing and real estate development and underlined the government’s commitment to transparency, efficient use of resources and data-driven systems to attract investment. He emphasised the strategic importance of a Land Data Bank to create a comprehensive federal record of assets and facilitate better decision making.
Secretary Housing Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh explained that a Land Data Bank would consolidate accurate, accessible information on federal lands, many of which remain under encroachment and thus deny the state potential revenue and development opportunities. He outlined that a GIS-based system would support market valuation, private investment facilitation and optimal land use planning.
The meeting also reviewed the National Housing Policy 2025 and considered how ADB can play a role as a technical partner and guarantor for private sector projects. Potential areas for cooperation identified by both sides included strengthening housing subsidy frameworks, improving mortgage and housing finance structures, promoting green housing and environmentally appropriate construction methods, supporting urban revitalisation and piloting low-cost housing models, and upgrading data systems for planning and monitoring.
ADB delegates provided thematic inputs and endorsed the need to bolster the housing subsidy framework. They encouraged exploration of community-based urban infrastructure models similar to Singapore to enhance inclusion and social benefits in upcoming projects. Both parties agreed to continue joint work to advance sustainable housing development, modern asset management through the Land Data Bank, and inclusive urban structures across Pakistan.
