Asia-Pacific Shelter Forum concludes with call for climate-resilient, inclusive housing: Murad Shah

KARACHI, Feb 13: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the Asia-Pacific region is grappling with intense pressures from rapid urbanisation, housing shortages, climate risks and environmental stress, and called for the urgent adoption of climate-resilient housing, inclusive planning, disaster preparedness and community-driven solutions.

Delivering his closing remarks at the three-day Asia-Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum (APSSF) 2026 at a local hotel, the chief minister said shelter and human settlements were not merely infrastructure issues but fundamental pillars of dignity, equity, social stability and climate resilience. He thanked international delegates, development partners and experts for what he described as meaningful and solution-oriented discussions.

Positioning Sindh as a global pioneer in climate-resilient recovery, the forum concluded with the province projecting itself as a leader in post-disaster housing and settlement solutions. The APSSF, described as the region's premier platform for housing solutions, brought together nearly 1,200 participants, including about 100 international delegates, from 206 organisations representing governments, development institutions, financial bodies, UN agencies, academia, civil society, media and the private sector from across the Asia-Pacific region. In total, 600 delegates from 41 countries attended, alongside senior government officials and global experts.

Referring to Sindh’s experience, Mr Shah said the province had directly faced the devastating impacts of climate change through floods, mass displacement and pressure on urban systems. He reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to policies and partnerships that promote safe housing, resilient cities and improved quality of life, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised communities.

The chief minister said international delegates participated in the forum, reflecting Sindh’s growing global standing in climate-resilient housing and post-disaster recovery. He recalled that Sindh had presented its Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) programme at an earlier forum in the Philippines, where it formally requested to host the next conference in Karachi, a proposal that was accepted.

The forum highlighted the SPHF programme as a global benchmark in post-disaster recovery. The initiative aims to build over 2.1 million climate-resilient homes, benefiting more than 15 million people - a scale larger than the populations of 154 countries. A key feature of the programme is women-centred ownership, with homes and land titles issued in women’s names, thereby promoting dignity and financial inclusion.

International partners, including World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar and representatives of the Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank, praised Sindh’s beneficiary-driven approach, describing it as a model for people-centred and climate-resilient recovery.

Across 26 technical sessions, participants discussed scaling resilient housing, integrating climate adaptation and mitigation, and translating dialogue into practical action, measurable outcomes and sustained regional cooperation.

Highlighting the scale of the SPHF initiative, the chief minister said the programme - implemented in line with Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s vision and rooted in Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s principle of Roti, Kapra aur Makaan - exceeded the populations of 154 countries in scale. “This was an impossible task at first, but with strong partnerships and collective effort, we have provided safe shelter to millions of families,” he said.

Emphasising action over rhetoric, Mr Shah said such forums must move beyond promises toward practical implementation.

The forum brought together cabinet members, senior officials, diplomats, international experts, development partners, academia, civil society and the private sector. Sessions focused on scaling climate-resilient housing, integrating adaptation and mitigation, and strengthening partnerships among governments, communities and the private sector.

Minister for Planning and Development Jam Khan Shoro thanked national and international partners for making APSSF 2026 a meaningful and forward-looking platform for dialogue, learning and partnership.

Mr Shoro said discussions focused on scaling inclusive and climate-resilient housing, stressing that resilience must be embedded in policies, finance and institutions, and that climate adaptation and mitigation should go hand in hand. He highlighted the importance of partnerships among governments, development partners, the private sector and communities for lasting impact.

Referring to Sindh’s experience after the historic floods, the minister said hosting APSSF 2026 allowed the province to reflect, learn and renew its commitment to safer, more inclusive and climate-responsive settlements. He emphasised that the outcomes of the forum must translate into policy reforms, programmatic innovation and measurable results.

To link policy with practice, international delegates will undertake field visits to Thatta, Jamshoro and Hyderabad on Feb 14 to observe SPHF’s on-ground implementation.

The forum concluded with a recap video of key moments, including the inaugural address by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, who highlighted the role of shelter in social transformation. The chief minister thanked the organisers - SPHF, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Planning and Development Department - and urged delegates to carry forward the spirit of cooperation and innovation beyond the forum.

At the conclusion, the chief minister presented awards and letters of appreciation to all the national and international institutions and organisations that have worked with the Sindh government on the People’s Housing Project.