The three-day Asia-Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum (APSSF) 2026 concluded in Karachi with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah calling for urgent action on climate-resilient and inclusive housing across the region.
Addressing delegates at the closing session, the chief minister said the Asia-Pacific region faces mounting pressure from rapid urbanisation, housing shortages, climate risks and environmental stress. He stressed that shelter and human settlements are not merely infrastructure concerns but “fundamental pillars of dignity, equity, social stability and climate resilience.”
The forum brought together nearly 1,200 participants, including about 600 international delegates from 41 countries, representing 206 organisations. Attendees included governments, development institutions, UN agencies, financial bodies, academia, civil society, media and the private sector.
Positioning Sindh as a leader in post-disaster recovery, the province highlighted its Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) programme as a global benchmark in climate-resilient housing. The initiative aims to build more than 2.1 million homes, benefiting over 15 million people, a scale larger than the populations of 154 countries.
A defining feature of the programme is women-centred ownership, with houses and land titles issued in women’s names to promote dignity, empowerment and financial inclusion.
Referring to Sindh’s experience of devastating floods, Mr Shah said the province had directly faced mass displacement and strain on urban systems. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnerships that promote safe housing, resilient cities and improved quality of life for vulnerable communities.
International partners including World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar, along with representatives of the Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank, praised Sindh’s beneficiary-driven model and described it as a people-centred approach to climate recovery.
Across 26 technical sessions, delegates focused on scaling resilient housing, integrating climate adaptation and mitigation, and strengthening regional cooperation. Planning and Development Minister Jam Khan Shoro said resilience must be embedded in policies, finance and institutions, adding that adaptation and mitigation should go hand in hand.
He noted that hosting APSSF 2026 allowed Sindh to reflect on lessons from historic floods and renew its commitment to safer and more inclusive settlements.
To bridge policy and practice, international delegates will visit Thatta, Jamshoro and Hyderabad to observe SPHF’s implementation on the ground.
The forum concluded with a recap of key moments, including the inaugural address by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, who emphasised the transformative role of shelter in social development.
Chief Minister Murad Shah presented awards to national and international partners and urged participants to move beyond dialogue toward measurable action in building climate-resilient housing across the Asia-Pacific region.
