APSSF 2026 opens in Karachi: Sindh showcases world’s largest housing reconstruction initiative

KARACHI: The Asia-Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum (APSSF) 2026, the region’s premier platform for advancing dialogue, coordination, and practical solutions in shelter and settlements, officially opened at a local hotel in Karachi.

The three-day forum has brought together approximately 600 visionaries, practitioners, development partners, and changemakers from 41 countries, alongside national participants comprising senior government officials, Secretaries, and Heads of Departments responsible for Housing, Shelter and Settlements, and Disaster Risk Management, united under the theme ‘Scaling Inclusive, Climate-Resilient Homes and Communities in a Nexus-Driven New Humanitarian World’.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, who delivered the keynote address, with Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, delivering the Special Address.

The ceremony commenced with welcome and opening remarks from Chief Secretary, Government of Sindh, Syed Asif Hyder Shah, followed by statements from distinguished partners and supporters of the forum, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, European Union, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, International Organization for Migration, and Catholic Relief Services, each reaffirming their commitment to advancing inclusive, climate-resilient shelter solutions across the Asia-Pacific region.

Khalid Mehmood Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer of the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF), delivered remarks that traced the extraordinary journey of the initiative that has brought the world to Karachi today.

In his special address, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah welcomed delegates and affirmed Sindh’s leadership in disaster recovery and climate resilience. “I am proud that Sindh is leading this forum and hosting this global gathering, because our province is home to the world’s largest housing reconstruction initiative, the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees,” the Chief Minister stated.

Reflecting on the devastating 2022 floods that submerged nearly 70 percent of the province and damaged 2.1 million houses, the Chief Minister highlighted the commitment made by Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardai. “Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made a clear commitment: that every affected family would receive a house, not just any house, but a climate-resilient house, so they would never have to endure such suffering again. I am proud to say that we delivered on that promise.”

The Chief Minister emphasized that Sindh not only rebuilt homes but did so in record time, setting a benchmark for efficiency, accountability, and innovation in post-disaster recovery.

In her address, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari spoke to the profound link between shelter, dignity, and social transformation. “Shelter is far more than a roof over one’s head. It is the base upon which health, education, safety, and economic stability depend. It is where families recover from loss, where children feel protected enough to dream, and where communities find the strength to move forward together,” she stated.

Aseefa highlighted the Pakistan Peoples Party’s founding promise of roti, kapra aur makaan, food, clothing, and shelter, as the minimum dignity every citizen deserves. She emphasized the critical role of women in shelter initiatives, noting, “When women have safe homes, access to assets, and financial inclusion, the benefits extend well beyond the household. Women invest in their families, anchor social cohesion, and contribute directly to long-term development.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026