Homes are shrinking in Pakistan
World’s largest homes can be found in USA, Canada & Australia due to ample land and extremely low population density. But Pakistani average house, 3000 square feet built/covered area, is even bigger than houses in these countries. Large size house building started in 1960’s during the reign of President Ayub Khan, when Pakistanis idealized the large town houses designed by the famous architects Frank Lloyd Wright and John Lautner. Low population density, vast land area and joint family culture were the major factors to promote the large size house building in Pakistan.
Small home building is already underway in Pakistan
Now situation in Pakistan is much different than it was in 1960’s. Now Pakistan’s population is 200 million and its population density is more than 260 (people living on a square kilometer land). No land is available to build large houses even in suburbs of Pakistani cities. Here are the other reasons for shrinking homes sizes in Pakistan;
Land has vanished in cities due to fast commercialization
High inflation is an obstacle to afford large houses
Single family living requires small houses
Larges houses have high maintenance costs
New homes sizes in Pakistan
Pakistanis are now considering downsizing homes. Due to high inflation, people in Pakistan cannot even afford 3 Marla house with price tag 6 Million Pak Rupees. People are looking for small houses and affordable flats as viable housing options. This housing choice of Pakistanis has direct impact on new housing developments. In past housing societies had large size plots like 10 Marla, 1 Kanal and 2 Kanal. Developers were unable to attract buyers for large plots & houses. Therefore, developers are now forced to build small homes and flats that have affordable rates. Housing societies likeAl Hafeez Garden and SA Gardens Lahore are sold out like hot cakes due to small plot sizes & highly affordable rates. Now even people who have 1 Kanal or larger homes are demolishing these to build 3-5 Marla houses. In future we will see only small size flats & houses due to affordable prices.