Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced that his administration has initiated the rebuilding of 2.1 million houses to aid over 12.6 million individuals affected by floods, surpassing the population of 154 countries. He revealed this during an inspection of the housing reconstruction progress at the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) office on Thursday, alongside provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Shah, Makhdoom Mahbood, and DG SPHF Khalid Shaikh.
The chief minister stated that Rs39 billion had been allocated to connect 264,250 houses with proper sanitation facilities, emphasizing the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.
To fund the construction of 2.1 million homes, Rs550 billion was estimated, of which Rs440 billion had been secured with assistance from donor agencies. The remaining Rs110 billion shortfall would be covered through foreign funding and federal government support.
This endeavor, initiated after the devastating floods of 2022, primarily aims to rehabilitate those affected, with 85% of the damaged homes being mud-thatched houses. The initiative was propelled by the vision of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who successfully mobilized funds at international conferences.
Currently, 525,000 houses are under construction, with over 100,000 already completed. The government has received substantial financial assistance from the World Bank and the Sindh government, with additional support anticipated from the Islamic Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
By the project’s completion, between 1.2 and 1.5 million houses are expected to be finished by the end of next year. The comprehensive housing reconstruction program not only facilitates self-reliance among beneficiaries but also incorporates advanced technologies to ensure transparent management of funds.
