HOUSING SECTOR
As a result of rapid urbanization and higher population growth the housing situation in Pakistan has remained under tremendous pressure. The provision of shelter has not kept pace with above phenomenon and resulted in the deterioration of living conditions, increased health hazards, and rapid growth of slums and squatter settlements (Katchi Abadis). The improvement of slums and squatter settlements, and provision of affordable housing to shelterless population will help alleviate the condition of urban and rural poverty as well as increase the productivity of the low-income population through improved public health.

According to 1998 population and Housing Census of Pakistan , there were over 19.3 million housing units in the country as compared to 12.6 million enumerated in 1980 showing an increase of 53.7 percent. Of the total 19.3 million Housing Units in the country, 67.7 percent were in rural and 32.3 percent in urban areas accommodating total population of 131.5 million. The rural stock has increased at a relatively slower pace of 45.1 percent as against 75.6 percent in the urban stock since 1980.

Of the total housing units enumerated in 1998 census, nearly 81 percent were owned, 9 percent rented, and 10 percent rent free. The percentage of owned housing units were higher in the rural areas compared to urban areas. Similarly, percentage of rent free houses was higher in rural areas as compared to that in urban areas. However, the percentage of rented houses was significantly higher at 23.2 in urban as compared to only 3 percent in rural areas as reflected in Table 17.1:

Source: Population & Housing Census 1998

The percentage of single room houses has declined from 51.5 in 1980 to 37.7 in 1998. On the other hand housing units with 2-4 rooms have increased by 10.9 percentage point during this period. The percentage of houses containing 5 or more rooms has almost doubled. Similarly the number of rooms per housing unit has increased from 1.9 in 1980 to 2.2 in 1998.

The level of congestion in terms of person/rooms per housing units reflects the housing conditions as well as living standard of the society. Its changing trend helps in determining the overall requirement of housing units and ultimately provides a base for policy formation and future planning at macro and micro level in the country. The average household size is estimated at 6.6 percent which is marginally lower than that of 1980 (6.7) and still considered to be over crowded by the international standard. Increasing population especially in urban areas (i.e. about 33% of total suits) is generating greater demand for more and more civic amenities. Due to higher growth of population, the gap between needs and actual availability of housing and services like water supply and sanitation/drainage, etc, continues to widen. This requires joint efforts both by the public and private sector. Also, the increased rural urban migration due to the pull and push factors, is putting tremendous pressure on the civic amenities in urban areas.

On the basis of 3.0 million incremental increase per annum in population, the annual incremental demand of housing units has been worked out to be 0.9 million in addition to backlog of 4.0 million during 1998. On the other hand about 0.3 million housing units constructed by the public and private sector annually are added to existing housing stock and as a result present backlog of housing units is of 4.3 million.

The estimated backlog of 4.3 million housing units, including 52 percent to deal with over-crowding and 48 percent as substandard dilapidated houses, require immediate re-construction. About 35 percent of total urban population lives in the "Katchi Abadis" and slums where the population densities are high. Most of the rural houses on the other hand are "Katcha" and devoid of water supply and sanitation facilities. Presently, safe water supply is available to 60 percent of the country's population and sewerage/ sanitation facilities to only 32 percent. The corresponding figures in the urban areas are 80 percent and 50 percent, and those in the rural areas, are 48 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

Development Programme, 1999-2000
Policies in the physical planning and housing sector are aimed at increasing the supply of housing units, to meeting basic needs of drinking water supply & sanitation, channelizing the urbanization and assuring proper urban development and management. The breakup of financial utilization for 1998-99 and allocations for 1999-2000 are given in Table 17.2.

* Foreign project assistance is included in the total cost (Provincial & Federal).
Source: Planning & Development Division, Islamabad

Overall size of PSDP, 1999-2000 of PP&H Sector is Rs 9807.3 million i.e. 33.3 percent higher than the last year's sectoral utilization (Rs.7356.2 million). It includes Rs.2003.5 million allocation for federal projects and Rs.7803.8 million for provincial programmes. Main Public Sector development projects of Federal PSDP include: replacement of air-conditioning system in Pakistan Secretariat Blocks, construction of Islamabad Administration Office Complex etc. Overall size of provincial PSDPs is estimated at Rs.7803.8 million, including Rs.5335.0 million from Social Action Programme to implement rural water supply & sanitation system. Out of total provincial allocation of Rs.7603.7 million, the share of Punjab, Sindh, NWFP & Baluchistan is 59.3 percent, 20.8 percent, 12.7 percent and 7.2 percent respectively. Out of total allocation for year 1999-2000, 65% have been utilized upto March, 2000. The physical achievements for 1998-99 and target for 1999-2000 are given in Table-17.3:

SAP: Social Action Programme
Source: Planning & Development Division, Islamabad

Pakistan Public Works Department(PWD)
Pakistan PWD, under Ministry of Housing & Works is responsible for the execution of Development Schemes and maintenance of Federal Government buildings all over Pakistan. The development schemes are undertaken both through PSDP as well as deposit works financed by various departments/agencies. During the financial year 1999-2000, the department concentrated on completion of important schemes, such as residential units at Islamabad (276 Cat.V and 34 Cat.III), Labour Colonies at Ghari Habibullah, Hayat Abad, Peshawar and Hostel building for Shariat Court, Islamabad. The work load of Pak.PWD of last five years is given in Table-17.4:

Source: Ministry of Housing & Works, Islamabad

Autonomous Housing Agencies
Besides, Pak. PWD, there are also four other autonomous agencies which undertakes housing projects. Their activities are discussed below:

i) National Housing Authority (NHA)
The National Housing Authority (NHA) is presently associated with country-wide low income communities infrastructure (shelter) projects, aided by the World Bank costing US $ 672 million, to provide basic services, infrastructure up-gradation, credit service etc. In the first phase, a community participation programme is in progress in NWFP for providing basic services in 55 urban/rural settlements whereas Federal component of the project has recently completed.

ii) Pakistan Housing Authority
The Government has initiated a housing programme which has provided various initiatives and incentives to the private sector. A pilot project of 10,000 housing units has been launched with the basic premise of commercial viability, marketability and self-financing. Keeping in view the requirements and needs of housing in Pakistan, the programme will be further expanded. It is planned to construct approximately 20,000 to 30,000 housing units under the housing programme to meet as a small component of the requirements of the housing sector.

iii) Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF)
The basic objectives of the Housing foundation, is to formulate policies, programmes and projects for providing shelter to serving and retired Federal Government Employees and their dependents and to initiate, launch, sponsor and implement Housing Scheme for Federal Government Employees on ownership basis in Islamabad, the Provincial Capitals and other major cities of Pakistan. The Housing Foundation's launched housing schemes are given in Table-17.5:

Source: M/o Housing & Works, Islamabad
In Islamabad 1595 houses were constructed with an estimated of Rs.550 million, additional 1226 plots for different categories were arranged in "I" Sector Islamabad. Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) had allocated 500 Kanals of land in April, 1993 in Regi Lalma Township Scheme, Peshawar for the housing scheme on ownership basis. About 27,000 plots of various size are planned to be developed. This will take 2 to 3 years for completion to construct houses for Federal Government employees at about 113 acres of land in different sectors of KDA. However, because of poor response of the public in 1993, it was decided to offer developed plots instead of constructed houses. Thus in Phase-I of the housing scheme, 218 plots measuring 2275 acres have been developed.

iv) House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC).
The House Building Finance Corporation advances loans to general public for construction of houses in rural/urban areas. The HBFC has provided housing finance of over Rs. 31,049 million to over 413,707 borrowers/partners for the construction and purchase of houses all over the country, including Northern Area and Azad Kashmir and construction of houses damaged by natural climaties to the tune of Rs.600 million of flood/rain affectees. The disbursement of Rs. 1276 million has been made during 1999. Under various schemes of remission to widows for loan/investment, the HBFC has so far waived off Rs.1521.4 million to 27049 million borrowers.

II. ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND POLLUTION CONTROL
Pakistan's accelerating demographic growth and prolong stay of Afghan Refugees has led to acute pressure on local natural resources and is also likely to suffer disproportionately from climate changes and other global problems, such as the green house effect, affecting pattern of agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Much of the environmental degradation witnessed today is primarily due to two groups of people, the top billion rich and bottom billion poorest. It is the rich who pollute more, contribute more to global warming, generate more waste and put more stress on nature's sink. Yet there are also environmental challenges that stem not from the growing affluence but from the growing poverty.

As a result of increasing impoverishment and absence of alternatives, a swelling number of poor and landless people are putting unprecedented pressure on the natural resources base, as they struggle to survive. Some kinds of environmental degradation are truly a global concern, such as global warming and deletion of the ozone layers. Others are international-acid rain, the state of the oceans and the condition of rivers that run through several countries. Others still are more localized, though they may occur world wide such as air pollution, water pollution and soil degradation. The protection of the environment and agriculture growth is an essential part of development and without adequate environmental protection, economic development is undermined.

The most pressing environmental challenge in Pakistan in the next few decades will come from lack of agricultural planning, environment degradation and poverty. Besides, it will include health hazards due to lack of access to clean water & sanitation, indoor air pollution from bio-mass stoves, deforestation and severe soil degradation. Though early Malthusian predictions of environmental calamity proved to be overly pessimistic, recent scientific studies indicate that there is a cause for concern with respect to the limited ability of the earth's ecosystem to regenerate itself. Increasing evidence regarding the extent of Ozone depletion and encroaching global warning present alarming implications for the global climate. It is estimated that deforestation alone accounts for roughly 25% of all carbon dioxide estimated world wide. Also of great significance is the fact that deforestation leads to the destruction of vital source of atmospheric oxygen.

Pakistan generates over 50,000 tons of solid waste per day; out of which only 20 to 25 percent is collected but not managed in the proper manner; thus causing serious air, water and land pollution and health hazards. Only 3 percent of the industry treats their wastes, while the rest discharges untreated effluent into rivers, lakes and sea. Dumping of untreated municipal and industrial wastes have caused contamination of surface and ground water sources and threatened the aquatic life. About 40 percent of the population is still without access to safe drinking water and nearly 84 percent of rural population is without sanitation facilities. Water borne diseases account for 20 to 30 percent of all hospital cases and about 60 percent of infant deaths in the country.

Vehicular emission are the largest source of air pollution in Pakistani cities. During the last few years, traffic in urban areas has increased tremendously due to increasing trend in single occupancy and private transport. The total vehicles in the country which were about 0.85 million in 1992 are estimated to have exceeded 4.5 million by the year 2000. The level of air pollution in Pakistani cities three times higher than of the acceptable limits. It has been estimated that, on average, each vehicle in Pakistan emits 15-20 times more pollutants than the average vehicle in developed country.

Agriculture Planning, environmental upgrading and more agricultural production at local, national and international level will make the planet a safe haven for coming generations. A major step towards this direction has already been taken by the Government by enacting a law in 1997 for protecting the environment. In terms of global cooperation, Pakistan is a contracting party to a number of international conventions but on several others, like the ocean dumping, global environmental character and agenda 21, are still to be new international initiatives.

Considerable progress has been made for enactment of a new legislation for the protection and conservation of the environment in the country. The Environmental Protection Act 1997 has been promulgated which provides framework for implementation of National Conservation Strategy, Establishment of Provincial Sustainable Development Funds, Protection and Conservation of Wildlife Habitats and Bio-diversity; Establishment of Environmental Tribunals and Appointment of Environmental Magistrates; Initial Environmental Examination (IEE); Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and promotion of public education and awareness of environmental issues through mass media.

The New Act provides compensation for losses/damages caused by a polluter for internalizing this externality. It also empowers the federal government to make rules for implementing important international environmental agreements to which Pakistan is a party. Pakistan is also playing an active role internationally by supporting and establishing new global partnerships to protect the environment at national, regional and global level and has become signatory to many international conventions /protocols/agreements. These include: Agenda-21, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances; Global Environment Facility (GEF), Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and Convention on the Control of Trans Boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal.

The environmental programmes focus on efficient and effective implementation of National Conservation Strategy (NCS) at the provincial and federal levels in 14 core areas, identified under the Strategy. Major emphasis has been on the institutional up-gradation, legislation; mass awareness; massive afforestation and marine pollution management.

PSDP Allocations
Environmental awareness in Pakistan is of recent origin. The government has only recently formally integrated the environmental issues in its development planning. In view of the complex and diverse nature of the environmental problems, a sustainable development strategy backed by environment preservation & protection programmes has been adopted by the government with necessary institutional set-up and legal framework.

Recognizing the importance of public input and participation in identification, formulation and execution of policies and development schemes and projects, the government has further step by setting up two Advisory Boards, one each on Local Government and Rural Development, and on Environment. Each Board is a body of eminent persons from the business sector, the civil society, and the public sector who collectively represent the interests of a wide range of stakeholder. The Boards reflect government's seriousness and vision in garnering diverse sources of input in its policy formulation and decision making on environmental, local governance and rural development issues.

In the PSDP 1998-99, Rs. 1416.6 million were allocated for Environment/ Forestry Sector at the Federal and the Provincial Level including AJ&K, against which 88 percent have been utilized. During 1999-2000, an allocation of Rs.982.1 million (including AJ&K) has been made for projects pertaining to environment & forestry. Major emphasis would be mainly on institutional strengthening and streamlining the functions of environmental agencies. Agency-wise allocations are given in Table-17.6.

Source: Planning and Development Division, Islamabad

Environmental Projects
Following are the major sectoral programmes, being implemented during 1998-99 in order to facilitate both the short and the long-term environmental achievements:

i) Legislation
The Environmental Protection Act 1997 provides base for developing legal frame-work and implementation strategy in the country. The Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines have been prepared for sectoral projects. Methodology and mechanism for enforcement of environmental laws will be worked out. Environmental tribunals at Lahore & Karachi have started functioning for reversal of grievances of the affectees, while tribunals for other areas will also be setup.

ii) Mass Awareness Campaign
Responding to the pressing need for increasing environmental awareness, a massive mass awareness campaign has been launched by the Ministry of Environment, Local Government & Rural Development through print and electronic media.

iii) Afforestation

Forests occupy only 5 percent of the total land area of Pakistan and are being depleted increasingly. According to a World Bank Report, Pakistan is facing one of the highest rate of deforestation in the World. Total forest area of Pakistan including AJ&K and Northern Areas is 4.2 million hectares which is 5 percent of the total country area. One third of the forest area is productive and remaining two-third is maintained for environmental stability. In addition to forest area administrated by provincial forest departments, substantial tree growth exists on private farm lands in the form of compact, scattered and linear plantations. According to Forestry Sector Master Plan, 1992, trees on 3,40,000 hectares have been planted on farm lands and private lands under Watershed Management and Social Forestry Programmes. National Forestry Sector Policy prepared in 1998 will be adopted for implementation. The policy envisages conserving the existing forests, expansion of forestry resource base and protection of bio-diversity and wild life.

iv) Rachna Doab Afforestation Project
This project was started in July 1995 at a total cost of RS 550 million for a period of four years. An amount of Rs.139.0 million has so far been incurred. During the financial year 1998-99, Rs.20.0 million have been allocated. The work on this project is in progress and will help increase the tree cover, with positive effects on the surrounding environment.

v) Tarbella Watershed Management Project
Phase-II of Tarbella Watershed Management Project was initiated in 1993-94 and has been revised at a cost of Rs.753.1 million with FEC of Rs.593.7 million, to be financed by the World Food Programme (Rs.257.1 million) and the KFW of Germany (Rs.336.8 million). The original project area of 16,058 k.m was spread over six districts of Abbottabad, Mansehra, Bata-gram, Kohistan, Changla and Bunair. The revised PC-II envisages afforestation and sowing over 14,453 acres of privately owned denuded marginal grasslands and community/social forestry plantations over 2450 acres of badly denuded agriculture lands. The project will also help establish various nurseries, construction of new roads, management of old roads and soil conservation in old and new areas.

vi) Conservation of Bio-diversity in Pakistan
Bio-diversity is one of the core area of National Conservation Strategy (NCS) adopted by the Cabinet in 1992. Pakistan lies between latitudes 24 and 37 N and between 61 and 75 E longitudes and is also characterized by a continental type of climate which is arid and semi-arid with two distinct seasons, summer and winter. Pakistan on account of its affinity to three faunal regions has a rich and varied flora and fauna. Recognizing that biological diversity is being significantly reduced and its conservation for sustainable use is necessary, Pakistan had been a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity since 26 July, 1994. A Bio-diversity Action Plan (BAP) is in the final stage. The project titled "Protected Areas Management Project" has been approved by Global Environment Facility (GEF) amounting to US $ 10.8 million. This project aims at conserving three National Parks (Hingoal National Park in Baluchistan, Gol National Park Chitral in NWFP, and Machiara National Park in AJK which will be in operation shortly to frame National Bio-safety Guidelines for Pakistan. Another project titled " Mountain Areas Conservancy Project (MACP)" amounting to US$ 7.0 million has been approved. The project titled "Maintaining Bio-diversity in Pakistan with Rural Community Development" is also being implemented in NWFP and Northern Areas. A Bio-diversity Register is being prepared which will enlist all projects on bio-diversity and different institutions working in bio-diversity fields. A Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) is being established in the Ministry of Environment with financial assistance of US$ 10.6 secured from GEF. For long term sustainability of protected areas (National Parks, Game Reserves etc), a Biodiversity Trust Fund will be established.

vii) Environmental Impact Assessment
Under Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, it has been made mandatory for the sponsors of development projects of both, public and private sectors to carry out and submit the Initial Environment Examination (IEE) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports to the Planning Authorities and to concerned EPAs, so that the proposed development project should not have any adverse impact on environment. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the World Bank's Environmental Protection & Resource Conservation (EP&RC) project would also be supplementing the ongoing activities for capacity building, public and private institutions to protect environment. As a first step, EIA Guidelines for different sectors are under preparation for the convenience of project proponents. A second step will be the institutionalization of EIA review process and ensuring public participation through NGOs/Local Communities and systematic institutionalization of EIA into planning and development process at the Federal/Provincial and Local Government levels so that EIA could be used as an effective decision making tool in the planning process.

viii) Ozone Cell
Pakistan has signed the Montreal Protocol to phase out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). To this end, an Ozone Cell was established in the Ministry of Environment in 1996. The country programme has been completed and about 15 ODS phased out sub-projects in refrigeration, foam, fumigation and solvent sectors have been approved for grant of funding from the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol. These sub-projects will help in phasing out 978.2 metric ton of ODS. A grant equivalent to about US $ 9.0 million has been allocated by the multilateral fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.

ix) Kasur Tanneries Pollution Control Project
The objective of the project is to provide facilities for evacuation of the stagnant pools of waste water, collective treatment plant, effluent disposal system, arrange solid waste management system and in-house pollution control methods in tanneries. About 75-80 percent work of this project has been completed and its is expected that the project will be completed by the end June, 2000.

x) Preparation of Master Plan for Urban Waste Water
A study is currently in progress to identify the existing condition of waste water facilities and to assess the qualitative, quantitative & techno-logical deficiencies in the provision of urban waste facilities in Pakistan which is expected to be completed by end June, 2000.

xi) Strengthening of Forestry Wing at Federal Level for implementation of Forestry Sector Master Plan
The project aims at a) designing a system for coordinating investment activities, identification and preparation of forestry sector and institutionalize the system country wide b) reviewing and refining the FSMP priorities and strategies by undertaking special studies of national importance in research, education, extension, policy land tenure system, forest management marketing of forest products and codification of legal instruments, and c) developing forestry/data base and update the FSMP.