EVALUATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMMES THROUGH A MULTIDIMENSIONAL FRAMEWORK: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL MODELS AND THE APNI CHHAT APNA GHAR PROGRAMME IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Access to affordable housing remains a critical challenge in rapidly urbanizing regions, particularly in the Global South, where limited access to formal finance, rising construction costs, and institutional constraints continue to widen housing deficits. This study develops a multidimensional framework to assess housing programmes beyond output-based metrics and to position the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (ACAG) programme in Punjab, Pakistan within a global policy context. A mixed-methods approach is adopted, combining comparative analysis of global housing programmes using eight indicators—delivery performance, financial accessibility, coverage and reach, inclusion, governance transparency, implementation efficiency, fiscal sustainability, and contextual difficulty—with a survey of 1,496 ACAG beneficiaries across 36 districts. Programme data for global ranking were analysed using NVivo 14, while survey data were analysed using SPSS. Results show that while large national programmes rank higher in scale and institutional maturity, ACAG demonstrates strong performance in financial accessibility and innovation, distributing over 100,000 interest-free loans in its first year. Survey findings indicate improvements in housing safety (98%), education (78%), and household well-being, alongside high transparency (98.5%). However, challenges related to loan adequacy, rising costs, and limited female participation persist. The study concludes that multidimensional evaluation is essential for assessing sustainable housing policy and aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 11.