Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Ms. Kazuko Ishigaki met with Federal Minister for Housing & Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada at the Ministry in Islamabad on February 10, 2026 to discuss strengthened collaboration on housing and urban development.
The minister welcomed UN Habitat’s ongoing technical support and noted Pakistan’s pressing housing crisis, underlining the government’s commitment to address the challenge through comprehensive policy reforms and targeted housing initiatives that prioritize delivery and impact.
Both sides highlighted UN Habitat’s inputs into the National Housing Policy 2025 and its role in post-flood recovery efforts, particularly in reinforcing urban, land and housing policies and infrastructure. The minister stressed that while sound policy is essential, effective implementation remains the critical priority for delivering tangible results to communities.
Ms. Ishigaki emphasized the need for strengthened strategic planning, effective zoning and regulatory reform to enable sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient urban development. She outlined implementation of the UN Habitat Strategic Plan 2026-2029, stressing that housing is a foundational element for community and national development and that UN Habitat stands ready to provide technical, policy and resource mobilization support for climate-resilient and affordable housing initiatives.
Secretary Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Mehmood informed the delegation that the National Housing Policy is at its final stage of approval and that the government intends to place strong emphasis on green building standards and incentive-based frameworks to accelerate growth in the housing and urban development sectors. He noted that incentives are essential to bridge gaps in affordability and sustainability.
Ms. Ishigaki welcomed the focus on green building measures and referenced UN Habitat’s decade-long experience promoting sustainable construction practices to reduce the environmental footprint of conventional building methods. She reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to support integrated housing solutions that are resilient, affordable and adequately serviced.
The meeting was attended by the Additional Secretary Housing, the Deputy Director General (Planning & Policy Wing), and Mr. Jawad Ali Khan, Senior Advisor, 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, and both sides agreed to deepen cooperation to promote sustainable urbanization and improve housing outcomes across Pakistan.
