WB approves $435 million for low income household projects in Pakistan

Islamabad: The World Bank has approved $435 million in financing for three projects in Pakistan which would expand access to housing finance, particularly for low-income households, improve land tenure rights and facilitate affordable housing developments in urban Punjab.

According to a press release issued by WB, three projects approved by the bank's Board of Executive Directors are Pakistan Housing Finance, Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement and Punjab Affordable Housing Program.

“Affordable and accessible housing is in high-demand in Pakistan, which is home to over 200 million people and is the most urbanized country in South Asia,” World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, Najy Benhassine said.

“These projects will contribute to addressing housing needs, particularly for low-income households, by leveraging the private sector and by facilitating access to mortgage options for those who currently cannot access financing to buy a home.

They will also strengthen property rights and increase the supply of climate-resilient, affordable housing developments”, he added.

WB has approved $85 million additional financing for Pakistan Housing Finance Project which would help to expand access to affordable mortgages to increase homeownership among low-income households, including women and informal workers.

The additional financing would scale up the credit risk-sharing facility launched in 2018, to provide partial credit guarantees to banks, in order to incentivize them to lend to borrowers traditionally excluded from commercial financing.

This will benefit up to 70,000 first-time homebuyers in the country, who qualify for the government’s interest rate subsidy program – Mera Pakistan, Mera Ghar (My Pakistan, My Home).

WB approved $150 million under Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement Project which would strengthen land administration and facilitate housing authorities’ efforts to identify suitable areas and public lands for affordable housing developments in the Punjab province.

The project would support the provincial government in upgrading its land registry by creating a digital, province-wide inventory of lands and deeds.

The projects will help to secure land tenure and streamline procedures for land-related permits – which are essential for private sector investment, housing finance and tax revenue collection.

The project will also generate geospatial data and risk information to inform urban planning and disaster risk management strategies for natural hazards such as floods.

More than 38 million people are expected to benefit from land registration, which will not only improve tenure security, but also formalize land and property ownership.

The $200 million Punjab Affordable Housing Program will increase the availability of affordable housing, particularly for low-income households in the province.

The program would enhance government systems to create an enabling environment that attracts private financing for mixed-income housing developments.

It will also help the government better target subsidies of the Naya Pakistan Housing Program for low-income households.

The program also incentivizes the integration of green building principles, climate resilience, accessibility, safety, and mobility of women in housing developments.

The program will benefit approximately 77,000 households over the next five years, half of which will be low income families living in urban areas.

SOURCE: APP