More than 2000 families migrate to Karachi daily. However, the ones who migrate are already so poor that it is difficult for them to find any permanent residence. They are unable to find jobs and neither can they find housing. So, what happens? They live on the streets without a roof over their heads. Nothing to call their own...

Now you ask, "Well, can't anybody help them?" Who is going to help them? Even though the government has tons of money, they are not allocating resources appropriately to the people who actually need them. They are not able to respond to socio-economic needs of the poor in both urban and especially rural settlements. Sure the government has developed squatter settlements like Korangi and Landhi in Karachi but these settlements are not conducive to the needs of the poor. There is no power, no clean water, no safe housing, no sewerage system, no nothing!! What are these people suppose to do with just free land?? Lets turn to private institutions. Sure many have great initiatives for the poor with regards to health centers and water and drainage system but most are for profit only. They make their big bucks and leave the people they claim they are serving. And then there are land mafias who will give the poor everything they need, but a big price. This price endangers their safety as well as that of their family members. One is indebted to them and are required to follow their every command.

Civil society is composed of totally voluntary and social organizations. Community members recognize their own needs and work together to solve their problems. Individuals who are poor take their lives into their own hands to change their present and the future. Community members are empowered and mobilized into action. Khuda Ki Basti is such an example. This is the name given to the colonies located not only in Karachi but Hyderabad and Lahore as well. It literally translates into "God's own land." This housing scheme won the Aga Khan Award of Architecture in 1995. The AKAA jury felt that this model proved to be a successful effort to create affordable housing for the poor and that this model can be replicated elsewhere. This field trip proved to be inspiring and thought-provoking. If you would like to see pictures, go on facebook.

Khuda ki Basti (KKB) is an incremental housing development scheme, located in the slums of Karachi and Lahore. The KKB was actually developed first in Hyderabad and is a joint initiative between the NGO Saiban and Malir District Authority. We visited the Taseer site in Karachi, however. This project is actually a prime example of what civil society should be.

Saiban has purchased plots from the Malir Development Authority, which they distribute to poor families based on their income and family size. This allows individuals and families to settle on land and own a place which they themselves can call 'home' at a price they can afford. The development of the scheme is incremental while the internal services are limited to the basics. At the start only communal water supply and public transportation to the city center are provided however, services such as internal water supply, sewerage, road, electricity and gas are provided as the allotte pay their monthly installments. Speed and standard of development thus depends on installments. The total price of a fully, furnished 80 sq yds plot is Rs 37,500 with Rs 8,000 as the down payment and the rest is paid in installments of 300/month. Once the full price is paid off, the land belongs to the family. With this regard, the project is self-financing without any subsidy from the government or anyone else for that matter. Individual dignity is preserved and their ability to help themselves encouraged.

The great thing is that the families get to design and construct their home with any material or style they can afford. Usually, the first house is made from cheap, raw materials like wood or cardboard. Once families take up permanent residence and generate some income, materials such as brick or cement block is used. These materials are locally available and not bought it from an outside source.


Khuda-ki-Basti is also provided with education and health facilities, both private and public. Families are also privided with affordable transport service. However, I was too happy with the Baqai Hospital (sponsored by another NGO). Sure its nice to offer free services but this is not sustainable. A small amount of user fee can go a long way. Aren't we then undermining individual dignity by giving them charity? Now this hospital gets its funding from profits made by international institutions like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. However, what happens when these institutions decide to opt out. Where will the people of Khuda Ki Basti go then?

Either way, this scheme is changing the concept of "katchi abadis" -those living in shanty towns/slums who have no means nor motivation to help themselves.

"Even when governments are fragile, or even nearly paralyzed in their functioning, strong civil society organizations can advance the social and economic order as they have done in Kenya and Bangladesh. Civil society is a complex matrix of influences, but its impact can be enormous, especially in rural environments." - Speech by His Highness Aga Khan at the Graduation Ceremony at University of Alberta, June 2009.