Islamabad: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have pledged to advance their collaboration in sustainable housing development, modernizing asset management, and creating inclusive urban infrastructure. This commitment was solidified during a meeting in Islamabad between Housing Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada and an ADB delegation.

According to Radio Pakistan, the ADB delegation, which included Senior Housing Specialist Hong Soo and Unit Head Urban, Lead Officer at ADB’s Pakistan Resident Mission, Mian Shaukat Shafi, focused on exploring avenues for mutual cooperation. One of the primary discussions was the establishment of a Land Data Bank. The Ministry aims to develop this data bank to provide comprehensive information on federal assets, with a special focus on prime land holdings across the country.

Minister Pirzada emphasized the critical role of the ADB’s technical and financial support. He highlighted the government’s commitment to transparency, optimal resource utilization, and investmen
t attraction through state-of-the-art data-driven systems.

Secretary Housing, Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh, elaborated on the purpose of the Land Data Bank, noting its role in compiling accurate and accessible data on federal government assets.

The ADB team, on its part, underscored the importance of addressing the housing subsidy framework. It advocated for the adoption of community-based models of social urban infrastructure, akin to the Singapore model, to ensure maximum welfare and community participation.