Real estate CEOs conference: Punjab minister backs high-rise development
LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Bilal Yaseen has termed high-rise development a key requirement for Pakistan’s urban future, stressing that vertical expansion is essential to meeting the country’s growing housing needs while ensuring efficient use of land and infrastructure.
He expressed these views while addressing a live podcast session at what organisers described as Pakistan’s first Real Estate CEOs Conference featuring a serving provincial housing minister. The conference was organised by Alif Holdings and brought together policymakers, leading developers, investors, business leaders and media representatives to discuss the future of Pakistan’s real estate and housing sector.
The interactive session was moderated by senior journalist Mansoor Ali Khan and attended by prominent television anchors Waseem Badami and Shahzeb Iqbal, along with senior executives from the real estate industry.
Discussions centred on housing policy, urban planning, regulatory reforms, investment climate, vertical urban development and public-private collaboration to address the country’s increasing demand for housing.
Bilal Yaseen said rapid urbanisation and shrinking land availability made vertical development indispensable for sustainable city planning.
“With rapid urbanisation and increasing pressure on available land, vertical development is no longer an option—it is a necessity. Well-planned high-rise projects enable cities to grow in a sustainable manner while making optimum use of existing infrastructure. The government’s focus is to encourage responsible developments that meet modern construction standards and contribute towards organised urban expansion,” he said.
The minister also emphasised the need for continued engagement between government institutions and private developers, saying collaborative policymaking would help strengthen investor confidence and support sustainable growth in the real estate sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Alif Holdings Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Saljouk said meaningful dialogue between policymakers and industry stakeholders was vital for the long-term development of Pakistan’s real estate sector.
“The real estate sector is a major contributor to Pakistan’s economy, and its future depends on constructive engagement between the public and private sectors. Through this conference, our objective was to create a platform where industry leaders, policymakers and the media could exchange ideas, address key challenges and contribute towards practical solutions. Alif Holdings will continue organising such forums to encourage informed dialogue and support the sustainable growth of Pakistan’s real estate industry,” he said.
Participants welcomed the initiative and called for greater policy consistency, regulatory transparency and stronger public-private cooperation to promote sustainable urban development and improve investor confidence in Pakistan’s real estate market.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026