A study on climate-resilient housing in Pakistan; identifying critical indicators for sustainable development

Abstract Urban dynamics, especially in emerging nations, pose major challenges due to rapid population growth, economic development, and technology breakthroughs. Climate change, natural catastrophes, and socioeconomic inequality all pose difficulties to resilient housing globally, but in Pakistan, these problems are exacerbated by the country’s fast urbanization, informal settlements, and governance shortcomings. The increasing demands further exacerbate the issue, highlighting the urgent need for climate-resilient solutions, especially for housing. Achieving Sustainable Development Goals requires pursuing climate-resilient housing that can withstand extreme weather conditions such as intense heat waves, urban flooding, and severe storms. The present study investigates the climatic vulnerabilities in Pakistan that create significant environmental, social, and economic stress. The study identifies key vulnerabilities in selected case studies through post-occupancy evaluation, focus group discussion, and in-depth interviews. A systematic table of indicators for physical, social, and economic resilience is also proposed to improve the overall quality of the housing sector. This study’s results demonstrate that incorporating various identified indicators can reduce climate vulnerabilities in the housing sector. Additionally, the post-occupancy evaluation of case studies verified that integrating innovative construction techniques and materials in resilient houses reduced indoor temperature by 5–8 °C and provided better flood resilience by 25–30% compared to neighboring houses in the same context. The results of this research contribute to the process of strengthening housing against climate change challenges in an efficient and timely manner, taking into account the aspects of both resilience and sustainability.