Pakistan Village Finds Shelter in New Eco-Friendly Homes

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Twenty-five of the poorest households in Village Haji Jaffar Jamari, Pakistan were chosen as beneficiaries for the People’s Housing Program, dubbed 'Benazir Model', named after the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. It was launched on May 1, 2009 to provide energy-efficient, low-cost and disaster-proof housing for the poor in Sindh province. The housing program, which will see the construction of 500 units for the poor, is being jointly undertaken by the provincial government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

KARACHI, Oct 20 - "I don’t think I will ever miss the old home; it never protected us from floods and storms!" said Dadi Ibrahim, a 65-year old widow. Her only association, she said, with her dilapidated hut is the "fond memories" of living there with her late husband.

Ibrahim’s thatched house has been her home for as long as she can remember. Hers was one of 25 poorest households in her village chosen as beneficiaries for the People’s Housing Programme, dubbed 'Benazir Model', named after the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. It was launched on May 1, 2009 to provide energy-efficient, low-cost and disaster-proof housing for the poor in Sindh province.

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The housing programme that will see the construction of 500 units for the poor is being jointly undertaken by the provincial government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which was the first to use the innovative technology inherent to the project when it embarked on a similar undertaking, albeit on a much smaller scale, in Badin and Thatta between 2003 and 2004.

The project boasts the use of indigenous and eco-friendly technology and materials that can withstand the ravages of nature, the frequency and intensity of which is widely believed to be the results of climate change, the bane of modern society. The choice of both technology and building materials is also intended to provide sustainable energy solutions.

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