Activity Description: 30% of Pakistanis now live in urban slums due to a scarcity of affordable housing (a shortage of 4.5 million homes in 1998). Saiban is a market based solution that provides home ownership for urban squatters; the program builds housing developments on land it has secured and inspected, then sells the houses to the poor with reduced rates and an affordable down payment: total cost is 30% less than informal housing over 10 years.

By partnering with other non-profit social organizations, Saiban also facilitates education, health and credit services to the residents of the housing community.

Saiban is transparent and sustainable on a per-project basis, but growth has been slower than expected due to the dramatic increase in land prices and building materials in Pakistan recently.