29 September 2010: As part of the recovery efforts from the monsoon floods in Pakistan, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) will build approximately 5,000 disaster-resistant and energy efficient houses for those left homeless in the coastal area of Thatta, where 86% of the population lives below the poverty line.

The houses will be built with locally manufactured materials that can potentially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, use reduced amosunt of timber sources and cost about US$2,000. The construction of the houses will generate jobs and increase income opportunities of affected communities. The project will ensure that house ownership titles are also provided to women, who were the worst affected by the floods. The disaster resistant and energy efficient houses were previously piloted in Pakistan by a UNDP project. [UNDP Press Release]