KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has described the completion of reconstruction of one million flood-hit houses as a historic achievement and dedicated the milestone to the people of Sindh.
‘This is not just a number. It represents one million families who now have a roof over their heads, security for their children and hope for a better future,’ he said while speaking at a ceremony at Chief Minister’s House on Tuesday.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, representatives of international development partners, senior government officials and families who benefited from the housing programme were also present.
According to a press statement issued by the CM House, the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) has completed 1,007,111 climate-resilient houses across the province, marking a major milestone in what is being described as the world’s largest housing reconstruction initiative.
According to the district-wise figures, Khairpur recorded the highest number of completed houses at 167,739, followed by Naushahro Feroze with 90,865, Jacobabad with 83,037, Dadu with 79,492 and Qambar Shahdadkot with 74,898.
Larkana recorded 72,357 houses, Shaheed Benazirabad 66,460, Shikarpur 61,143, Ghotki 41,790, Badin 39,721, Sanghar 38,473, Sukkur 31,285, Kashmore 29,480 and Jamshoro 28,364.
Other districts also contributed to the provincial milestone, taking the overall number of completed houses to 1,007,111.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister recalled that fol-lowing the devastating floods of 2022, Sindh had undertaken the enormous challenge of reconstructing 2.1m climate-resilient houses for more than 15m people across 23 districts.
He said that when the PPP chairman asked the provincial government to find a way to provide homes to flood-affected families, the government accepted the challenge because the people deserved more than promises.
‘We chose a different approach. Instead of relying on contractors, we placed families at the centre of reconstruction, empowering them to build their own homes with dignity and ownership,’ he said.
Mr Shah said that the completion of more than one million houses demonstrated what could be achieved through political commitment, institutional capacity, transparency and the active participation of communities.
He said that every completedhouse was geo-tagged, digitally monitored and independently verified at each stage of construction.
Highlighting one of the programme’s most significant social achievements, the chief minister said that women had been placed at the centre of the housing initiative, enabling millions of women in rural Sindh to become homeowners.
‘A house registered in a woman’s name is more than property; it is security, dignity and economic independence,’ he said.
He acknowledged the contribution of international development partners, particularly the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and European Investment Bank.
He said that despite enormous financial challenges, the World Bank had committed $500m, while the Sindh government had committed $179m to support thereconstruction programme.
He further said that the programme was now moving beyond housing construction towards providing essential community infrastructure, including clean drinking water, sanitation and drainage facilities.
‘Through nearly $1 billion in combined investments, we aim to extendthese essentialservicesto approximately 4,800 villages, he said.
Earlier, the chief secretary highlighted the extraordinary scale ofthe reconstruction effort, describing the completion of one million houses as a landmark achievement for Sindh’s public institutions and development partners.
He said the programme demonstrated how coordinated government efforts, modern monitoring systems and community participation could translate an enormous post-disaster challenge into tangible results for millions of people.
He said the government’s journey towards the target of 2.1m homes would continue. ‘Today, we celebrate one million completed houses. Tomorrow, we continue our journey towards 2.1 million homes and a more resilient Sindh,’ he said.
Families share their stories One of the most moving segments of the ceremony was the presentation of testimonials by beneficiary families.
The families shared their experiences of losing their homes during the 2022 floods and subsequently rebuilding their lives through the government initiative.
They expressed satisfaction over receiving financial assistance and being able to construct permanent, climate-resilient houses according to their needs.
They particularly appreciated the opportunity to become homeowners and provide a safer environment for their children and families.
For many rural women, the programme has also brought a new sense of ownership, independence andsecurity,ashouses are registered in their names.