Environmental research

In Pakistan there are 130 districts, the district Badin is most backward area declared by government of Pakistan, where every year floods and natural calamities hit the communities at a large scale. Total population of District Badin is 1136040. 83.6% of population is living in rural areas. Majority of villages is without basic facilities like electricity, natural gas, telephone etc. Fuel wood is main sources of energy in rural areas (72.7% of total population). Due to increase in population, usage of fuel wood is also increased in past ten years. There are total 46 union councils in district Badin out of which 10 are located at coastline. Due to various reasons deforestation has increased in previous years, especially at coastal belt of the district. It is estimated that average consumption of fuel wood per day per household is 10 kg. Smoke free stove and energy efficient house are field tested products and few of the organizations in Badin as well as in Thatta have introduced the products with the technical assistance from Aga Khan Planning and Building Service (AKPBS), Pakistan. The organization intends to further introduce this product in their project area in Union Council Kadhan, District Badin. Major activities of the project are: Identify villages Identification and selection of activists Sensitization and realization sessions for the activists Mohallah meetings and village meetings for sensitization and realization through activists Formation of village organizations Capacity building through awareness raising Formal trainings on organizational development and book keeping Launch savings program Mentoring village organizations Introduce health and hygiene sessions Form beneficiary groups Organize trainings on energy efficient stove making Facilitate, mentor and monitor stove making process Organize training on kitchen gardening Provide kitchen gardening kits to beneficiary groups Identify two beneficiary houses for awarding energy efficient low cost housing units through lottery Construct and handover housing units to beneficiaries Organize sessions with community on open defecation free environment and school sanitation and sensitize them on the importance of environmental hygiene. Sign terms of partnership with artisans for each artisan install 10 stoves in surrounding village Training of artisans Installation of products Mentoring and monitoring Promote social forestry as a mitigation measure for environmental degradation Launch campaign each house plant and sustain three saplings Prepare and package awareness material Disseminate information material to stakeholders

Pakistan