December 24, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 25, 1429

KARACHI, Dec 23: The Sindh government will allot a concrete and safe residential unit in the cyclone- and fire-proof housing project, undertaken by the People’s Housing Cell under the UNDP scheme, to the fisherman who lost his three children in a fire that also reduced his hut to ashes in Ibrahim Haidery area on Monday.

The decision was taken by the cell after a team of its officials visited the scene of the fire. The visit was aimed at looking into the possibility of including the locality in the scheme.

Chairman of the cell Zia-ul-Islam informed Dawn that the government, in collaboration with the UNDP, had undertaken to construct 500 houses for the poor families exposed to cyclones and other natural disasters. A large number of such families inhabit the Sindh coastline.

He said that 200 houses each would be constructed in Thatta and Badin district and another 100 along the coastal area of Karachi.

Having a covered area of 600 square feet, each unit would cost some Rs340,000, he said, adding that special technology developed by the UNDP would be employed in the construction work. Each unit would consist of two bedrooms, a veranda, a kitchen, a washroom, as well as space for a kitchen garden and an animal shed. The project would be completed within six-nine months.