The return of the population to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan makes a significant contribution to reducing the burden on housing provision in the country.
elchi reports that this was stated by the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Mikayil Jabbarov, during his speech at the dialogue session titled “Transforming Informal Settlements and Slums: Housing Provision for the World” held within the framework of WUF13.
According to the minister, the period after 2020 is mainly characterized by the Great Return Program, and the return of thousands of people who have lived as internally displaced persons for more than 30 years to their native lands reduces the pressure on the housing sector.
Mikayil Jabbarov stated that Azerbaijan’s main lesson in this area has been the official recognition of the problem first, followed by the development of a solution model taking into account political, social, and economic factors.
He noted that to achieve a successful result, it is essential to build a functional economic model with the support of local communities, the political will of the government, and the participation of the private sector.
The minister added that in recent years, procedures for commissioning multi-apartment residential buildings have been simplified, and amnesty mechanisms have been applied for some informal structures that meet basic urban planning requirements.
However, he emphasized that the legalization of illegal structures must be carried out with caution. This is because, while a simple amnesty may solve short-term social problems, it could increase pressure on agricultural land, forest areas, water resources, and critical infrastructure zones in the future.