NHA

National Housing Authority

INTRODUCTION

The National Housing Authority (NHA) was established on August 13, 1987 under a Resolution with the primary objective of preparing short and long terms plans/programmes and policy guidelines and mobilizing financing resources for development of housing for low income groups. The NHA was declared as an attached department of Ministry of Housing and Works vide Cabinet Division Notification No.7/2000-Mn-I dated 8th June, 2000.

WORK PLAN

Monitoring the implementation of the National Housing Policy with particular reference to the Action Plan.

Regular Liaison with the provinces, federal agencies and other stakeholders to determine the level of implementation and bottlenecks, if any.

Liaison with Housing Finance Institutions and Building Research Institutions regarding the implementation of Policy measures relating to them.

Submission of proposals to the Ministry for removing bottlenecks and expediting the implementation process.

Monitoring progress on projects initiated by the provinces in connection with low cost housing and housing for the shelter less.

Dealing with all matters of Islamabad New City Project initiated on public private partnership.

To coordinate all affairs of Housing Advisory Board, Coordination and Monitoring Committee of NHA-2001 and Committee on Cooperative Housing Societies.

PRESENT HOUSING SITUATION, ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF NHA.

1.Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its subsequent reaffirmation at the 1996 UN Habitat Conference, Adequate Shelter for All has been recognized as a basic human need. All Governments have the responsibility to take appropriate actions in order to promote protect and ensure the provision of adequate housing for its citizens. Present Housing baklog in the country is around 6.00 million units

National Housing Policy

2.The Government is committed to give priority to housing sector and has demonstrated its commitment by allocating significant resources for its accelerated development, which would boost the economic activities in 30 to 40 allied industries. Housing Sector is the largest single asset class in Pakistan and there are strong arguments for reviving economic activities through this sector because of its backward and forward linkages with the economy. The multiple effects of the housing and construction sector have the potential to create maximum employment opportunities beside generating industrial, commerce and trade activities. Having realised the importance of housing sector in the overall economic development of the country, the government , as an immediate measure, declared Housing and Construction as a priority industry. Simultaneously , as a long term measure, it was also decided to formulate a pragmatic and workable National Housing Policy in order to revitalise the housing sector. Accordingly, the federal government constituted a Housing Advisory Board with the approval of the President which included representatives from private sector stakeholders, beside officials of provincial governments, concerned federal ministries/departments and also Deputy Director General NHA. In line with its TOR, the Board framed a National Policy on Housing which was approved in principle by the President during presentation held on 22-06-2001.The Policy provides a number of incentives for the construction industry and private sector builders/developers .Main features of NHP are at (Annex-I)

3.Pursuant to the approval of the National Housing Policy-2001 by the Cabinet on 05-12-2001 and considering that the main obstacle in the implementation of 1992 Policy was weak and ineffective institutional frame work at federal and provincial levels, a comprehensive NHP Action Plan was prepared and circulated to all the provinces and stake holders for implementation. The provinces were requested to strengthen their institutional framework and simultaneously a Policy Monitoring and Implementation Cell was set up in the Ministry of Housing and Works to pursue, coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Policy in liaison with the provinces and stakeholders. Subsequently with a view to institutionalize the Policy implementation programme at the federal level in accordance with the sprit of the Cabinet decision, a number of functions relating to Policy implementation and monitoring were allocated to the National Housing Authority by the order of the Federal Government dated 18-06-2002 as indicated in the work plan.

4.As a result of the coordinated efforts of National Housing Authority, Ministry of Housing and Works, Provincial Governments and concerned private sector stakeholders, a large number of policy measures have so far been implemented resulting in the improvement of overall housing situation in the country besides increase in the exposure to housing fiance from Rs. 1.9 billion to Rs.33.7 billion during March,2003 to December,2005.

Action Programme ( Goals and Target)

5. The Prime Minister while discussing the Goals and Targets of Ministry of Housing and Works in a meeting held in the PM Secretariat on 28-09-2004, directed the Ministry to seek advice/guidance on matters concerning Housing, through Housing Advisory Board. Accordingly, pursuant to the Cabinet decision dated 15-9-2004 and subsequent direction given by the Prime Minister as above, an Action Programme (Goals and Targets) for implementing by NHA was formulated by the Ministry with regard to implementation of National Housing Policy and streamlining the laws and procedures to regulate the housing sector. The present implementation status of the Goals and Targets of NHA is enclosed.

Housing Advisory Board

6. National Housing Policy provides a workable mechanism to boost housing activity. In order to accelerate the process of implementation of National Housing Policy, a Housing Advisory Board has already been set up under the Chairmanship of Minister for Housing & Works with the approval of the Prime Minister. In order to enable the Board to perform its functions effectively, a Secretariat of the Board is being set up in National Housing Authority, 3rd Floor Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, Islamabad. The Board will advice the Ministry and National Housing Authority on the implementation and monitoring of NHP 2001 with the following TORs:-

To advise on the implementation and monitoring of National Housing Policy 2001.

To identify and make recommendations to resolve issues hampering housing & construction activities.

To assist in formulation of mechanism to:-

i) Attract local and foreign investment in housing sector.

ii) Measure fixed investment in the sector and its employment effect.

To advise and recommend legislation to:-

i) Regulate the Housing Sector/Societies/Companies etc. to check mal-practices being adopted to fleece the general public.

ii) Curb land speculation.

7.The Board is presently formulating recommendations for identification and resolution of issues hampering Housing and Construction activities and streamlining the laws and procedures to facilitate investment in the construction industry

Cooperative & Private Housing Socities:

8.In pursuance of the directions of the federal government, the Ministry of Housing and Works is also presently formulating a uniform policy to effectively regulate cooperative and private housing societies with a view to check malpractices being adopted to fleece the general public and also to curb land/property speculation. A Summary recommanding various measures and amendments in the relevant federal laws was submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. The Prime Minister Secretariat has directed the Ministry to place the proposed amendments in the federal laws before the Cabinet and thereafter the Provinces be suggested to carry out corresponding changes in their laws. The Ministry in consultation with the Ministry of Interior and Law Division will draft amendments in the relevant federal laws for appropriate enactment and thereafter suggesting the provinces to carry out corresponding changes in their laws.

9.The Government is confident that implementation of National Housing Policy (NHP-2001) and putting in place a vibrant Housing Finance System including enforcement of effective laws and procedures for monitoring the private and cooperative housing societies should definitely improve the housing situation in the country.

Islamabad New City Project:
10. National Housing Authority with the cooperation of NAB is making all out efforts to refund deposits made by the allottees/affecties in defunct Islamabad New City Project and clear all liabilities of the project. In this connection case is being filed in High Court, Lahore, for appointment of an official Liquidator for disposing off assets of Islamabad New City Joint Venture.