Tando Allahyar: The Chairman Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan, Ambassador (r) Farukh Amil along with the team of Intellectual Property Organization visited the village of Puno Kolhi, in Chambar, district Tando Allahyar on Thursday and inspected flood and earthquake proof houses built by Pakistan’s leading, world renowned female architect Ms. Yasmeen Lari for displaced people.
These zero-carbon, low cost houses designed by Ms. Lari are meant for the most vulnerable and marginalized citizens.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by the families of the village in a cultural display.
Chairman IPO said that flood and earthquake buildings were amongst the over 40,000 houses built for the disaster hit people. The low cost meant they were affordable. Locally sourced building materials and self help were hallnark features. The house design had been Kobe-tested to 6.1 on the Richter scale, proving their resilience and durability.
Chairman Amil stressed that Ms.Lari had designed these low cost, environmentally friendly houses which were the most perfect housing solution in the Age of Climate Change for income stressed and disaster vulnerable communities, especially in the global South.
He said the negative effects of Climate Change were likely to intensify in the coming years. Accordingly pre-emptive solutions like Ms. Lari’s designs were a critical response which had global applicability.
The business community of Karachi, in continuing their support for IPO Pakistan, donated sweets and biscuits for distribution to the children.
The villagers expressed their gratitude to Ms Lari for her generous guidance to empower them to build their own homes and small businesses. Lari Foundation had also provided solar plates to all houses for electricity facility and hand pumps were also given for water needs.
Kolhi women are famous all over the world for making the unique stove called Pakistan chulho. Daani Kolhi and Champa Kolhi who learned how to make a unique stove are the residents of Puno Kolhi, also had the opportunity to impart their skills in the UK.
Chairman IPO Pakistan highlighted Ms. Lari’s numerous designs were being patented with the aim to open source them for maximum help for vulnerable communities across the world. Amongst the many inventions that the invention of this stove, which is safe from smoke during cooking, has given them a new identity. Daani Kolhan, who is also the leader of the women of the village, also learned how to make a stove. Her house was made of two floors of bamboo poles and under it was her unique stove, which she is very proud of.
