MULTAN - The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) has developed Ehsanpur Village, a model housing scheme for the flood affectees of various hamlets falling in the jurisdiction of Tehsil Kot Addu, District Muzaffargarh.
The Punjab Government allocated 20 acres of land to PPAF in Seed Farm Ehsanpur, Kot Addu, for the development of a state-of-the-art village for the flood affectees.
Through a tripartite partnership, PPAF, Engro Foundation and Farmers Development Organization (FDO) collaborated to help the brethren in distress and so far 166 housing units have been constructed and handed over to the selected beneficiaries. Spread over a 3-marla piece of land, each housing unit consists of two bricked rooms, a veranda, a washroom, a bathroom, a bricked stove and some space for kitchen gardening.
Demo kitchen gardening kits have also been installed in the model homes and micro drip installation and training has been imparted. The beneficiaries themselves provided unskilled labour during the construction of their houses.
On top of all, independent off-grid solar energy panels have been installed at every housing unit for round the clock power supply, avoiding recurring costs and introducing alternative energy solutions in the wake of energy crisis.
There is a park and a playground for children. Livestock enclosures have been constructed for animals. Besides shopping area, efficient sewerage system has been laid down. Tree plantation has also been ensured to protect and improve the environment.
Similarly, a grey-water recycling unit for harvesting and purification of water from homes has been constructed to reuse water reused for agriculture or farming purposes.
Another significant feature of Ehsanpur Village is that the ownership rights of the houses vest in the names of women, instead of men, to make them empowered and play a leading role in the society.
PPAF has completed the renovation of both these schools and over 300 children have enrolled in both the schools. PPAF is also running an adult literacy programme for the residents of Ehsanpur Village where 150 females and 70 males have registered for studies.
Ehsanpur Village embodies the true meaning of integrated development where a diverse partnership of the provincial government, multinationals, local corporates, non-governmental and civil society organizations convened by PPAF have conjured up for changing the lifestyles of the poor and marginalized.
This is how PPAF is embarking on its vision of restoring hope, securing the future and ending poverty.