Cabinet okays housing policy, cybersecurity framework

The federal cabinet, led by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, endorsed the National Housing Policy 2026 and an action plan for its implementation on Monday. The policy emphasizes the need for housing projects to adhere to zoning laws and prioritize vertical construction to optimize land use. Prepared by a working group comprising national and international experts, the policy's primary aim is to provide sustainable, safe, and high-quality housing for all citizens.

The cabinet also directed that energy-efficiency codes be incorporated into the policy to ensure new constructions meet energy-efficient and environmentally friendly requirements. Progress under the prime minister’s Apna Ghar scheme, which has seen various banks approve loans worth Rs220 billion for housing projects, was reviewed. Over Rs32 billion has already been disbursed to successful applicants.

Additionally, the cabinet approved the withdrawal of the notice terminating the 1981 bilateral investment treaty between Pakistan and Sweden, as recommended by the Board of Investment. The Ministry of Information Technology presented the draft Pakistan Information Security Framework 2026 (PISF 2026) to the cabinet. This framework, aligned with the CERT Rules 2023, aims to establish a comprehensive and unified system of baseline information-security standards with central oversight.

The cabinet affirmed the PISF 2026 as a crucial document for cybersecurity, mandating its effective implementation within the specified timeframe. Furthermore, the cabinet ratified decisions from the Cabinet Committee on Energy meeting on July 28, endorsing proposed amendments to the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy 2023. These amendments focus on upgrading oil refineries to better meet the country's energy demands.

The Economic Coordination Committee meetings on July 27, August 4, and the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases meeting on July 24 also saw ratified decisions.