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Revision as of 23:46, 28 November 2006
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Private-sector Low Cost Housing in Pakistan was initially based on the concept of providing housing facilities to the general public, without making enormous profits. It was pioneered by Al Azam Limited Construction Company, a start-up construction company, that launched the "Low Cost Housing Society" in Karachi during the 1960s.
Al Azam built very low-priced residential- as well as commercial-type accommodations in Karachi and Hyderabad, using the apartment system. It managed to keep prices down, without sacrificing quality, by:
- reducing its profit margin; and
- increasing land-use density.
During the 1970s, Rukunuddin Construction Company followed Al Azam's footstep. The company, which was formed by a retired overseer from the Pakistan Works Department (PWD), also introduced low-cost prefabricated housing units, in addition to their regular low-priced apartments. The quality and safety of their units, however, were generally viewed as inferior.
Maymar, another construction company, entered the market in the late 70s, with residential apartments and housing units that were probably the best ever built, and they were highly successful. As demand for better housing accommodation increased, Maymar moved upmarket, leaving behind the low-cost housing sector.
Construction firms, such as Cellrock and Abidi, entered the industry in the early 1980s to focus on low-cost prefabricated housing units. As the quality of their construction was substandard, these efforts proved unsuccessful, causing serious financial losses.
The construction industry began to mushroom towards the end of the '70s. Most of the new companies joined the industry merely to make a quick profit, without regards for the quality and safety of their buildings. Monthly installments were also too costly for most of the general public. As a result of corrupt administrative practices, public confidence in low-cost housing projects suffered after some low-cost buildings collapsed, due to poor construction and thieving of construction materials.
Firms such as Al Azam are nowadays very rare, as most construction firms still preoccupy themselves with traditional outdated modes of construction. As the general public becomes increasingly knowledgeable and affluent, housing and construction are increasingly focusing on high -end and high-quality deluxe housing, where profits are also better. Today, low-cost housing are largely confined to remote city and town areas, and are largely managed by the government.
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