KARACHI, Feb 12 (APP):The Asia-Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum (APSSF) 2026, the region’s premier platform for advancing dialogue, coordination and practical solutions in shelter and settlements, officially opened on Thursday at a local hotel in Karachi.
The three-day forum has brought together approximately 600 visionaries, practitioners, development partners and changemakers from 41 countries. Participants include senior government officials, secretaries and heads of departments responsible for housing, shelter and settlements, and disaster risk management. The event is being held under the theme:
“Scaling Inclusive, Climate-Resilient Homes and Communities in a Nexus-Driven New Humanitarian World.”
Addressing the inaugural ceremony as chief guest, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari underscored the profound link between shelter, dignity and social transformation.
“Shelter is far more than a roof over one’s head. It is the base upon which health, education, safety and economic stability depend. It is where families recover from loss, where children feel protected enough to dream, and where communities find the strength to move forward together,” she said.
Ms. Bhutto Zardari recalled the Pakistan Peoples Party’s founding promise of roti, kapra aur makaan—food, clothing and shelter—as the minimum dignity every citizen deserves. She highlighted the critical role of women in shelter initiatives, stating that when women have safe homes, access to assets and financial inclusion, the benefits extend beyond households to society at large.
Describing the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) programme as a powerful example of climate-resilient recovery, she said it stands among the largest post-disaster housing reconstruction initiatives in the world, with a commitment to build over 2.1 million climate-resilient homes benefiting more than 15 million people.
“The true strength of this programme lies not only in its scale,” she added. “Homes and land titles are being issued in women’s names, many for the first time, strengthening dignity, security and financial inclusion. It is recovery designed not just to rebuild structures, but to restore lives and futures.”
Concluding her address, the First Lady called for collective action to ensure safe housing and resilience for all communities.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah welcomed delegates and reaffirmed Sindh’s leadership in disaster recovery and climate resilience.
“I am proud that Sindh is leading this forum and hosting this global gathering, because our province is home to the world’s largest housing reconstruction initiative, the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees,” he said.
Earlier, the ceremony began with welcome remarks by Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah. Representatives of key partner organizations — including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, European Union, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, International Organization for Migration, and Catholic Relief Services — reiterated their commitment to advancing inclusive, climate-resilient shelter solutions across the Asia-Pacific region.
Khalid Mehmood Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer of SPHF, traced the initiative’s journey since the devastating 2022 floods, describing how it evolved into the world’s largest housing reconstruction programme, delivering 2.1 million climate-resilient homes to affected families.
Over the next two days, APSSF 2026 will feature 26 sessions with around 115 speakers, focusing on policy, practice and innovation through dialogue and collaboration. On February 14, delegates will participate in curated site visits outside Karachi to observe the implementation of climate-resilient shelter interventions across Sindh.
The forum is hosted by the Government of Sindh and implemented by the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) in partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority.