Latest news with #SPHF
Business Recorder
24-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Flood rehabilitation housing project: Aseefa, World Bank MD distribute ownership rights certificates to women homeowners
HYDERABAD: Anna Bejerde, Managing Director of the World Bank, accompanied by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine, visited the flood rehabilitation housing project in village Nazar Muhammad Laghari, Shaheed Benazirabad district. This project, under the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affected (SPHF) programme, aims at rebuilding homes destroyed by the 2022 devastating floods. During the visit, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto and MD Anna Bejerde distributed ownership rights certificates to women homeowners and met with female members of the Village Reconstruction Committee (VRC), who showcased their handicraft work. The committee briefed that 32 homes were destroyed in the village, all of which have now been rebuilt. Anna Bejerde reaffirmed the World Bank's commitment to supporting the Sindh government in flood recovery efforts, praising the resilience of the local people and the leadership's dedication. She emphasised that sustainable community-level rehabilitation is achievable despite climate change challenges. First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari highlighted that granting women ownership rights under the SPHF project is a historic socio-economic empowerment initiative by the Sindh government, significantly benefiting rural women. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah noted that over 2.4 million homes were destroyed in the 2022 floods. The WB initially provided $500 million to kick-start the recovery, later increasing funding by $450 million over two years. This support has helped construct 778,000 homes and allocated $54.92 million for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) benefiting 66,691 families in 1,000 villages. SPHF CEO Khalid Mahmood Sheikh briefed that in Shaheed Benazirabad alone, 104,822 homes were destroyed; about 60,000 are under construction while nearly 40,000 are completed. Across Sindh, over 111,000 disabled persons are receiving accessible homes, and more than 800,000 women have opened bank accounts for the first time, promoting financial inclusion. The programme has provided safe shelter to over 6 million people and created more than one million new jobs. This visit underscores the ongoing collaboration between the WB and Sindh government to restore livelihoods and empower vulnerable communities affected by climate-induced disasters. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Good Bricks factory officially opens in Pakistan
INNOCSR, a Korean company leading the way in sustainable construction technology, has officially inaugurated a Good brick factory in Thatta, near Karachi, Pakistan. The factory marks a significant milestone in INNOCSR's mission to transform the construction sector in South Asia through the production of clean, non-fired bricks. The Good Bricks Thatta factory is funded by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) and supported by UNIDO, the European Union, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Reserve Carbon, Sindh People's Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF), HANDS Pakistan, and NED University of Engineering & Technology in Karachi. This collaborative effort reflects the growing commitment of international and local stakeholders to advance sustainable building practices in Pakistan. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives from the EU, UNIDO, KOTRA, SPHF, and HANDS, as well as local academics and community leaders. Attendees were introduced to the Good Brick technology and given a tour of the factory, including a live demonstration of the green brick production process. Good Bricks and its key stakeholders and local partners gather for the inauguration of the Good Bricks factory in Thatta. 'We are proud to expand our footprint across South Asia and offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional brick manufacturing. This plant in Thatta is a significant step towards our vision to create cleaner, more resilient and more sustainable building,' said Sam Yoonsuk Lee, CEO of InnoCSR. The Good Bricks Thatta factory will begin operations by supplying bricks to SPHF's beneficiaries for the reconstruction of flood-affected buildings in Sindh province, including homes and a community hall. The initiative aims to support post-disaster recovery as well as serve as a model for future sustainable construction projects across Pakistan. 'The Government of Sindh, through SPHF, is leading the construction of 2.1 million houses—making it the world's largest housing initiative. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the Government is promoting eco-friendly technologies and currently collaborating with Good Bricks to pilot green construction solutions,' added Khalid Mehmood Shaikh, CEO of SPHF. The Good Bricks System uses a proprietary soil stabilizer and does not require coal or firing, significantly reducing carbon emissions and air pollution. This expansion also builds on InnoCSR's strategic investment from ADB Ventures, which supports the company's scale-up of clean brick manufacturing across South Asia.
Express Tribune
22-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
WB team briefed on flood victims' housing scheme
World Bank executive directors and Sindh government officials and ministers discuss Sindh People's Housing for Flood-Affected. Photo: express The executive directors of the World Bank (WB) visited Pakistan for the first time in two decades and attended a presentation on the Sindh People's Housing for Flood-Affected (SPHF) programme, under which 900,000 housing units are under construction. The meeting was held at CM House on Friday. It was attended by Provincial Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, and concerned provincial secretaries. The 25-member delegation was led by Executive Directors (EDs) from various countries, including Beatrice Maser (Switzerland), Robert Nicholl (Australia), Terea Solbes (Spain), Zainab Ahmaed (Nigeria), Abdelhak Bedjaoui (Algeria), Lonkhulueko Magagula (Eswatini), Marlene Nzengou (central African Republic), Tauqir Shah (Pakistan), and Paul Bonmartin (France). Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, Minister of Planning and Development Nasir Shah, and the Chief Secretary gave a briefing on the housing project to accommodate flood-hit individuals. Sharjeel said 900,000 houses currently under construction in Sindh is the largest housing initiative in the world. SPHF CEO Khalid Mehmood Shaikh highlighted the project's impact in providing sustainable housing solutions for flood victims.
