Prime Minister’s Construction Package — An Evaluation

Acting on the PTI’s election manifesto of building 5 million houses, the Prime Minister of Pakistan announced an incentive package for the construction sector in April 2020. This package focused on providing tax cuts, subsidies, and reducing the regulatory burden for creating a conducive environment for construction activities. Since construction in Pakistan is a labour-intensive sector, it was hoped that the package would help the PTI government, albeit partly, deliver its other election promise of creating 10 million jobs. The ancillary by-products were livelihood opportunities and affordable housing for the poor, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.