Cabinet okays housing policy, cybersecurity framework
PM Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting of the federal cabinet.—Online ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Monday approved the National Housing Policy 2026 along with an action plan for its implementation, directing that housing projects comply fully with zoning laws and that vertical construction be prioritised to make more efficient use of land. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad…
The federal cabinet convened on Monday to endorse the National Housing Policy 2026 and a corresponding implementation plan. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting in Islamabad, where it was explained that the policy had been developed by a panel of national and international experts, with input from various ministries, provincial governments, and development partners.
The core aim of the policy, according to cabinet members, is to provide all citizens with sustainable, safe, and quality housing. In addition to emphasizing zoning compliance and promoting vertical construction to optimize land use, the cabinet also mandated that energy-efficiency codes become a standard feature of new housing developments.
Progress on the Prime Minister's Apna Ghar scheme was reported, with federal banks approving loans amounting to Rs220 billion for housing projects; as of now, over Rs32 billion has been disbursed to successful applicants. The cabinet also approved the withdrawal of notice terminating the 1981 bilateral investment treaty between Pakistan and Sweden, based on a summary submitted by the Board of Investment.
The Ministry of Information Technology presented the draft Pakistan Information Security Framework 2026, or PISF 2026, to the cabinet. The draft, aligned with CERT Rules 2023, seeks to establish comprehensive information-security standards with central oversight. The cabinet ratified this framework, deeming it an essential guide for cybersecurity measures, and directed that its implementation be ensured within the specified timeframe.
Additionally, the cabinet endorsed proposed amendments to the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy 2023, aimed at upgrading refineries to better meet the country's energy needs. Decisions from previous meetings—namely, the Cabinet Committee on Energy (July 28), the Economic Coordination Committee (July 27 and August 4), and the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (July 24)—were also ratified by the federal cabinet.
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