Insight of the Quality of Housing of Pakistani Households: Using New Methodology and the Countrywide Unit Record Data

Jawaria Rashid, Ijaz Hussain, Shabib Haider Syed

Abstract

This paper explores a new methodology for defining housing quality through constructing the comprehensive index by using the four dimensions. These dimensions include not only the internal as well as external conditions of the houses, but also incorporate the public provisions of the housing facilities available to the community as well as users’ perceptions about these facilities. Thus, the dependent variable of quality of housing index (QHI) comprises of four dimensions. The study uses country-wide unit record data (PSLM-VI: 2010-11) collected at household level. This study concluded that age, income, education of the head as well as family’s education have significant impact on the quality of housing. Specifically, family’s education contributes to the quality of housing at household level. Moreover, the households enjoy higher quality of housing living in pucca houses, in own-houses or in urban areas. Conversely, the poor are badly-stricken for the housing quality.