Policy Framework and Institutional Arrangements

Provision of affordable housing for low-income groups is constrained precariously in Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan, because of a complex institutional framework and overlapping roles of government authorities at federal, provincial, and local levels. This article is a reflexive study that covers a broader aspect of the Punjabi Housing system, drawing a framework of current institutional arrangements in practice for affordable housing provision. Although it draws on an institutional analytical framework, the article is grounded in applying structural analysis to the study of public institutions within the housing sector, which provides a much-needed theoretical framework for analyzing housing institutional arrangements under the current dynamic political environment within the country. The study is an effort to fill gaps in the literature in understanding the intricate practices and processes of public housing institutions with overlapping jurisdictions and roles. The article argues for streamlining the federal, provincial, and local governments to provide an enabling environment to deal with affordable housing policy and provision issues by reexamining the respective institutional structures. Some previous studies relevant to housing policies and projects are also reviewed, followed by an empirical analysis of institutional arrangements; finally, ways forward are suggested toward key policy and empirical implications.