SPHF leading to revive life of flood affectees: Umar Rehman Malik

Abdulah Jan

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik said this week that Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) was leading in reviving the life of the flood affectees.

“SPHF is leading the way in providing aid and solutions to those affected by the devastating floods caused by global climate change. This initiative will no doubt be a benchmark as the world tries to tackle the effects of this catastrophe on the lives of millions,” he said.

The PPP leader added: “As it is imperative for the global community to unite against global warming to curb the factors causing it to prevent further devastation.”

The SPHF has set out on a monumental task of constructing 2.1 million houses in 24 flood-hit districts of the province. Among the beneficiaries are 800,000 women, who would be directly involved in the construction of their homes which they would own under leasehold rights.

SPHF was conceived in October 2022, right after the end of torrential rains, when PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari assigned the task to the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

Subsequently, SPHF was established as a non-profit company, attracting $500 million from the World Bank, and $227 million from Government of Sindh. Seeing the significant impact it promised, other developmental organisations like Asian Development Bank also made contributions to the rehabilitation scheme.

The project is currently nearing completion of 850,000 housing units, making it the largest rehabilitation project of the world.

The social impact of the project is profound, as it also fosters community cohesion through village-reconstruction committees, which facilitate beneficiaries in every possible way, by helping them get funds to their bank accounts from the government, buy construction materials, hire labor, and ensure that their houses comply with the requirements.

Economically, SPHF is a catalyst for job creation and local economic development. The project is set to create one million jobs in various sectors, from construction to small-scale industries producing housing materials.

Environmental sustainability is also a key focus of the project, with initiatives like eco-friendly “good bricks” and solar energy adoption.

Digital transparency is another hallmark of the SPHF project, with a user-friendly website providing real-time updates on housing progress. Donors and stakeholders can track the impact of their contributions and witness the transformation happening on the ground.