Appeal to the Prime Minister: Do Not Dissolve NAPHDA — A Proven Institution Serving Millions
Islamabad ( Web News )
The Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA), established under an Act of Parliament in 2020, was created to address Pakistan’s housing crisis by constructing affordable homes for low-income families and promoting investment in the housing sector. Over the past five years, NAPHDA has made remarkable progress in fulfilling this mandate. The Authority spearheaded multiple low-cost housing initiatives across Pakistan, including in Islamabad, Lahore, Sargodha, Chiniot, and Nowshera.
NAPHDA has undertaken the construction of approximately 122,507 housing units in collaboration with various public and private sector entities. These include:
· 27,861 homes in partnership with the Akhuwat Foundation,
· 31,391 units funded through loans under the Mera Pakistan Mera Ghar (MPMG) scheme,
· 3,564 houses in collaboration with the Workers Welfare Fund, and
· 26,716 homes in Islamabad with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA).
In addition, more than 20,000 units are under development in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through partnerships with local development authorities. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, commercial banks extended Rs. 120 billion in housing loans through this program up to June 2022, prior to its suspension by the caretaker government. This historic mobilization of private capital demonstrated both the public’s demand and institutional trust in NAPHDA’s model. From 2020 to mid-2022, NAPHDA received over 2 million applications, illustrating overwhelming demand for accessible housing. Under the MPMG scheme alone, 125,507 applicants applied for Rs. 514 billion in loans, of which Rs. 236 billion were approved and Rs. 120 billion disbursed, facilitating the construction of over 31,000 homes by individual beneficiaries. Overall, NAPHDA has successfully handed over 59,368 housing units through a transparent, merit-based process targeting Pakistan’s low-income population.
Despite this stellar performance, the government has now announced a new Rs. 72 billion housing subsidy scheme, approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), which offers loans of up to Rs. 3.5 million at subsidized interest rates (5–8%) for up to 20 years. However, instead of building on NAPHDA’s existing success and institutional capacity, the government has decided to hand over implementation to the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHA) and dissolve NAPHDA, citing the need to “avoid duplication.” This decision raises serious concerns. NAPHDA is not a duplicate agency; it is the very institution that designed, launched, and implemented the housing model now being rebranded under PHA. It has a dedicated, experienced, and capable team with a proven track record. Dissolving such a productive and efficient body will not only jeopardize the future of over 2.1 million applicants who placed their trust in NAPHDA, but also directly affect the livelihoods of hundreds of its employees.
In the interest of fairness, continuity, and public trust, NAPHDA employees respectfully requested Prime Minister to reconsider this decision. Retaining NAPHDA, strengthening its role and using the experienced workforce, rather than dismantling it, would reflect effective governance and genuine concern for the housing needs of Pakistan’s most vulnerable citizens.