While CM Travels, Millions in KP Struggle for Homes

News Desk 

Peshawar: As Chief Minister Sohail Afridi undertakes an unannounced visit to Lahore, residents and economists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have expressed concern that pressing issues such as security, soaring commodity prices, and an acute housing shortage are being neglected.

Political and economic analysts have urged CM Afridi to focus on the province’s internal challenges instead of engaging in political activities outside KP. They noted that the province faces multiple crises—including terrorism, inflation, corruption, and a widening housing gap—that directly affect daily life.

The housing shortage in KP has reached alarming proportions. Rapid population growth, rising urban migration, and skyrocketing land prices have made affordable housing unattainable for many low-income families and salaried workers. 

Estimates suggest that KP requires 2.5 million additional housing units to meet current demand, particularly in urban centers such as Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad, and Swat. For thousands of families, renting has become a lifelong burden.

“Every month my rent increases, but my salary stays the same,” said Umar Khan, a government employee in Peshawar. “Saving for a house feels impossible amid rising commodity prices. I don’t know how long we can survive like this.”

Experts warned that political agitation and frequent changes in leadership have further stalled long-term housing policies, allowing property prices to spiral.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Naeem, former chairman of the Economics Department at the University of Pakistan, said that relocating low-income families to city outskirts without proper planning worsens social inequality and transport issues. He attributed the crisis to unchecked population growth, rural-to-urban migration, poor policies, and speculative land pricing.

Peshawar, home to nearly 1.97 million people, is projected to reach 2.8 million by 2030, driving the conversion of fertile agricultural land into unplanned housing schemes, raising concerns over food security and environmental sustainability.

The price of a five-marla house has surged to Rs 20 million, while average monthly rents now reach Rs 40,000, beyond the reach of low-income earners.

Political leaders have criticized the provincial government for failing to address the housing crisis. Sahibzada Hamaza, PML-N Nowshera President, accused the PTI-led government of spending taxpayers’ money on unnecessary political activities rather than constructing the promised five million houses nationwide.

According to a survey by the Provincial Housing Authority (PHA) under the Naya Pakistan Housing Program, KP faces a shortfall of 750,000 houses, requiring 262,500 kanals of land to bridge the gap. Peshawar alone needs over 104,000 units, while Mardan and Swat each require more than 60,000 homes. 

Projects including the Hangu Township, Jalozai Phase III, Peshawar residential flats, and Nishtarabad low-cost high-rise units are progressing slowly, while the Surizai Housing Project, planned to deliver 8,000 low-cost units in its first phase, remains incomplete.

“To clear the housing backlog, KP needs over 1.1 million units annually for the next 14 years,” Dr. Naeem said. “This requires sustainable planning, better land use, financial support for low-income buyers, and serious political commitment.”

As rents rise, land prices soar, and security concerns persist, millions of KP residents continue to wait for meaningful action. For families struggling to secure a roof over their heads, housing is no longer just an economic issue—it is a matter of dignity, stability, and survival.

Whether the KP government can translate promises into tangible results remains to be seen.