Shaheed Benazirabad, May 23, 2025 – Aseefa Bhutto, youngest daughter of President Asif Ali Zardari, visited the flood rehabilitation housing project under the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) programme in Nazar Muhammad Laghari village, Shaheed Benazirabad district, on Friday. She was accompanied by a high-profile delegation including World Bank Managing Director Anna Bjerde, Country Director Najy Benhassine, and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
During the visit, Aseefa and Bjerde distributed home ownership certificates to female beneficiaries. They also met with members of the Village Reconstruction Committee, who proudly showcased their handicrafts. Officials briefed the delegation that 32 homes in the village, destroyed during the 2022 floods, had now been fully rebuilt.
World Bank Commits to Long-Term Support
Anna Bjerde reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to Sindh’s flood recovery, praising the community’s resilience and leadership efforts. She emphasized that sustainable, community-led rehabilitation remains possible despite climate challenges.
Empowerment of Women Through Ownership
Speaking to the beneficiaries, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari highlighted that granting women homeownership is a historic step toward socio-economic empowerment. “This initiative transforms the lives of rural women by ensuring financial inclusion and housing security,” she said.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah revealed that the 2022 floods destroyed over 2.4 million homes. The World Bank initially provided \$500 million, later increasing the aid to \$950 million. This support has led to the construction of 778,000 homes and improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene for thousands of families.
SPHF CEO Khalid Mahmood Sheikh shared that 104,822 homes were lost in Shaheed Benazirabad alone. About 60,000 are currently under construction, and nearly 40,000 have been completed. Across Sindh, over 800,000 women have opened bank accounts for the first time, and 111,000 disabled individuals are receiving accessible homes, providing shelter to more than six million people and creating one million jobs.
Aseefa Continues Outreach Efforts
Earlier this month, Aseefa visited Daur taluka’s Mirza Farrukh Baig village, distributing ownership documents and listening to the concerns of women flood victims. Assuring them of support, she said, “I am fulfilling the promise made by my grandfather, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto — now you have your own roof with full ownership rights.”
