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  • Balochistan, Pakistan

Building a Climate Resilient Model Village for Sohbatpur, Balochistan

What is happening?

BYAC is thrilled to announce the successful inauguration of our Climate Resilient Model Village in Sohbatpur, Balochistan, marking a significant milestone in promoting sustainable development and resilience practices.  Our project is a collaborative effort with HANDS Pakistan, British Asian Trust, and Deutsche Bank.

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Why Sohbatpur?

Sohbatpur is one of the hottest places in Pakistan, with average summer temperatures rising over 45 degrees Celsius. The climate and livelihood conditions have deteriorated significantly over the past decade due to the impacts of climate change. The region has faced a series of natural disasters, including severe flooding, heatwaves, earthquakes, and water scarcity. These events have caused extensive damage to houses, roads, and the overall infrastructure system. Given the worsening climate and livelihood conditions in Sohbatpur, enhancing resilience and improving disaster preparedness to climate change has become a top priority for the area.

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What we did

Our project resulted in the creation of 22 new climate-resilient homes, renovation of 10 homes affected by structural damages, establishment of a mosque as well as the construction of a water filtration plant.

Climate Resilient Model Village in Sohbatpur provides a resilient, sustainable and secure living environment. It incorporates a range of essential amenities designed to enhance livelihood, ensure long-term resilience against the impacts of climate change, and bring transformational changes to the community.

 

22 New Climate-Resilient Homes

BYAC and its partners completed the construction of 22 Climate-Resilient Homes able to host over 110 people. They are built with mud bricks that are environmentally friendly, able to reduce the carbon footprint associated with construction. Mud bricks also have excellent thermal properties which maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, reducing the need for heating and cooling. All materials were locally sourced, and the construction involved local communities. These climate-resilient homes are designed to last for over 40 years and are especially adapted to withstand extreme weather conditions like heat and floodings.

Water Filtration Plant

Following engagement with community stakeholders, we opted to build a water filtration system. Water scarcity and the lack of proper water access infrastructure had serious consequences on livelihood and health in Sohbatpur. BYAC and its partners constructed a state-of-the-art water filtration system that ensures access to clean and safe drinking water. Our system provides XX liters of water per day serving XX and is designed to filter rainwater and store it safely.

Renovation of 10 Demolished Houses

Many houses in Sohbatpur were badly damaged by flooding and extreme heat. Our work restored 10 houses, providing the community with safe places to live once again. The renovation focused on the specific and contextual needs of the area, prioritizing the use of eco-friendly materials and ensuring long-term resilience to climate change.

Community Mosque

Recognizing the need to create communal spaces for gathering and fostering solidarity, BYAC and its partners decided to include the construction of a new mosque for the Sohbatpur community.

Celebrating Our Heroes

We extend our deepest gratitude to all the BYAC champions who worked tirelessly to make this project a reality. Your dedication, hard work, and commitment are the driving force behind this success. You are the real heroes, and we celebrate each one of you. In particular we want to thanks Khalid Ismail, Banari Mengal, Sikander Bizenjo, Shumaila Marri, Ilyas Barrech, Chaudhary Hassan, Ahad, Kamran Mengal, Razzak Baloch, Nasima, and all other champions who contributed in making this a success.

Partners

Communities First

BYAC believes in a bottom-up development process where all decisions are made by the involved community. We organized several community stakeholder meetings to discuss and identify their needs and priorities for the project and jointly designed the climate-resilient homes. The Sohbatpur community proposed using mud bricks, as was done in the past, leading us to rethink the overall project, which was initially focused on modern materials that were not able to sustain extreme weather conditions. By prioritizing traditional knowledge, we were able to create a more resilient and sustainable design.

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BYAC and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

While BYAC employs a bottom-up and grassroots approach to local development and empowerment, we are well aware of the importance of building upon the foundations established by the international community. The design and construction of our climate-resilient houses align with the work of the international community and were centered on promoting and achieving the following Sustainable Development Goals

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on this achievement, we are filled with hope and determination for the future. This model village is just the beginning. We envision more such long-term initiatives that empower communities and contribute to the resilience of our nation. Together, we will continue to strive towards a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

Listen to our co-founder, Sikander Bizenjo, share his experience and insights on this remarkable journey here on Pakistan’s Dawn News.

Media Coverage

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#Empowering Balochistan. Empowering Pakistan.