Adequate housing is not only limited to the cost of buying a house. Still, it is an all-encompassing feature, including the costs for operations and maintenance of the building and the cost of accessibility to social infrastructure (WEF, 2019). A safe, decent, affordable house is fundamental to building a path out poverty. A home offers better opportunities for children and parents, financial freedom for families, independent living, stability, and security.
According to estimates, Pakistan has the world’s highest per capita demand for housing. Currently, the county is short of 10 million housing units for its population, with the demand increasing by 300,000 units yearly (NPHP, 2017). However, due to the current housing crisis, most masses are forced to live in informal squatter settlements that take over agricultural land. According to a World Bank study in 2018, about 40.1% of Pakistan’s urban population lives in informal settlements. Another important factor that is increasing the housing shortage in Pakistan is the dead capital. Currently, only in urban areas of Pakistan, the land worth Rs300 million is locked as dead capital (Express Tribune, 2021).
In this situation, Vertical development proves to be one of the best practical solutions for tackling the shortage of land faced by many growing cities. A vertical city is an arrangement of interconnected mega buildings that contain housing, stores, hospitals, schools, farms, and outdoor spaces, all in one tower or a series of connected structures. Growing populations, shrinking spaces, and a desire to live in city centres have increased the utilisation of multi-story buildings.
Therefore, the Government of Pakistan has taken positive steps toward encouraging the vertical growth of cities and banned real estate development projects on fertile agricultural lands. Furthermore, the government is promoting vertical development by integrating high-rise construction in many development projects. With positive environmental benefits, vertical development can enhance the standard of living for the country’s population and become an effective solution to decreasing informal settlements.
Leave a Reply