World Bank Group President Ajay Banga today lauded Sindh’s community-led flood recovery initiative as a global model during a visit to the region, highlighting the programme’s success in empowering women through land ownership and financial inclusion. The massive undertaking aims to reconstruct 2.1 million homes, with 750,000 already completed and more than 100,000 women now holding secure land rights.
Mr Banga, accompanied by a 10-member delegation, arrived at Mohenjo-Daro Airport and was received by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. They subsequently travelled to Bhawal Jat village in Taluka Dokri to inspect the housing reconstruction and interact with families affected by previous floods.
During a briefing in the village, the Chief Minister informed the delegation that the reconstruction of 145 houses in Bhawal Jat was complete, with 83 per cent of ownership titles granted to women. “Sindh’s women are empowered, and our government is further strengthening social inclusion through this programme,” Mr Shah stated.
After a detailed inspection of homes built under the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) programme, Mr Banga expressed that he was deeply impressed by the progress. He described the initiative as the “world’s first community-led housing reconstruction programme of its scale.”
The Chief Minister explained the mechanics of the model, noting that families construct their own homes, which ensures income remains within the local community. Each house generates an estimated 160 days of paid employment, directly benefiting local daily wage labourers.
CM Murad Ali Shah presented key figures on the project”s advancement, reporting that out of a target of 2.1 million houses, 1.5 million are currently under construction and 750,000 have been finished. He confirmed that over 1.55 million beneficiary bank accounts have been opened to facilitate direct financial support.
Mr Banga confirmed the World Bank has extended $950 million in support to SPHF, comprising an initial $500 million and an additional $450 million. He noted that each beneficiary family, prioritised based on poverty and vulnerability, receives housing assistance worth approximately $1,400.
A significant outcome of the programme is the empowerment of women, with the Chief Minister highlighting that more than one million women now possess land ownership titles and 800,000 have received direct financial benefits. Mr Banga concurred, observing that women’s inclusion is reinforcing household income and community resilience.
The Chief Minister attributed the scheme”s success to a strong governance framework, including a modern Management Information System (MIS) for transparency and a public-private partnership model to maintain high accountability standards.
“This programme lays a strong foundation for human capital development and stands as a global example of how community-based recovery can generate jobs and promote social inclusion,” Mr Banga remarked, stressing that safe housing must be complemented by access to clean water, sanitation, and nutrition.
During the visit, Mr Banga planted a guava sapling, met with local artisans at a community centre, and distributed ownership certificates to women beneficiaries. In a brief address delivered in Urdu, he congratulated the new homeowners, stating, “You are fortunate to receive ownership titles – these are your freedoms.”
Later, the delegation toured the Mohenjo-Daro archaeological site, where Mr Banga described the 5,000-year-old ruins as a remarkable example of early human ingenuity and emphasised the importance of preserving cultural heritage.