‘Flood victims to get money to build houses’
A woman taking refuge is seen with her belongings, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Sohbatpur, Pakistan August 29, 2022. REUTERS/Amer Hussain
indh Chief Secretary (CS) Dr Muhammad Sohail Rajput said that the flood affectees will start receiving the money from February 8 for the construction of their houses.
Addressing a workshop organised by Sindh People’s Housing Foundation (SPHF), the CS said that the Sindh government has created the SPHF, a Section 42 company to build houses for the flood affectees, which has an independent board of directors.
He said that the houses will be constructed in collaboration with implementation partners such as National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), Sindh Rural Support Organisation (NRSO), Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP), and SAFCO Support Foundation.
“This is not only a project to build houses but it will also lead to social uplifting of the people as the Sindh government will also provide people with the title documents of the land,” said the CS.
As per a survey, 2.058 million houses have been partially or completely damaged by rains and floods in the province.
He also informed the participants that the World Bank has committed $500 million for the housing project. He said that the Sindh government is giving $250 million while the federal government has also promised to provide $250 million for rebuilding the house.
The chief secretary further said that a conference will be held in Karachi on February 8 to discuss the this project.
He said that these houses will be constructed as per multi-hazard resilient standards.
Dr Muhammad Sohail Rajput further said that Rs300,000 will be provided for a completely damaged house in installments and Rs50,000 for partially damaged houses while the implementation partner will ensure the completion of the construction of the houses as per the design approved by the Sindh government.
World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist Kamran Akbar, CEO SPHF Khalid Mehmood Sheikh, various NGOs, Implementation Partners of Sindh Government participated in the workshop.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2023.