Gul Bahao

Into the 21st century with new ideas from Gul Bahao

Case for Internationalizing Pakistans first Research Centre on Waste managment

The following is a paper read and circulated by the CEO of Gul Bahao, Nargis Latif among the 400 participants of a South Asian Conference on Sanitation held in Kathmandu recently.

Case for Internationalizing Pakistan’s First Research Centre on Waste management

The port city of Karachi having 20 million souls is the 6th most populated metropolis of the world generating more than 12,000 tons of garbage in a single day. In addition its economic wealth at this point in time (which is seeing rapid industrialization) makes it an ideal case study in waste management. What is more an organization by the name of Gul Bahao, an environment based organization during a period of 20 years and a budget of more than $90,000 has succeeded in covering several aspects of waste management from small extremely simple but highly effective products like mobile toilets to a most sophisticated futuristic concept like the Garbage n Gold Bank, it has dwelt into multiple dimensions of waste management. A massive campaign called “You give us garbage, we give you Gold” was conducted for more than 2 years which inter alia invited people especially the vibrant cottage industry and the informal economy to separate garbage at source.

The philosophy of Gul Bahao (literally meaning Flow flowers) is that there is a close nexus between environment and the economy. That garbage is in fact raw material for both industry and agriculture. At Gul Bahao Centre, research on both macro and micro level is been conducted.

The world over waste material is being used creatively but more for decoration purposes. Plastic packing material forms a bulk of inorganic waste. Then furniture is being made from packing material. The world famous “Silver block” a modular block designed at the Centre and used alternately as swimming pool, a two storied house etc. The raw material used is plastic waste which is otherwise burnt in the streets of Karachi causing toxic fumes and severe air pollution. The usefulness of these recycled products ensures that their raw material will not be mixed up with other kinds of organic waste.

At the centre the researched products are commercially viable products like cattle feed, Instant Compost Fuel Packets (Look at the attached pamphlet). As a result of Gul Bahao’s persistence in advocating recycling of gutter water two important steps were taken by the government of the day. One of these was a ban on using fresh water in lawns and encouraging use of gutter water in horticulture so that fresh water is not polluted by sewage water. This lead to a healthy growth of nurseries using gutter water. Secondly during the time of sacrifices of animals the offal’s and other organic waste used to be lying around for days in the streets. But a proposal from the Research Centre to the local bodies to bury en-mass the entrails and other filth of the dead animals lead to a complete change in the situation.

Thousands of people consisting of University students, NGOs, government officials and school going children as well as the media have visited the Research Centre. Its website is very mush visited and even used for writing theses by research students. It is located in one of the most developed areas of the metropolis, right on the main road.

We are all conscious of the fact that environment degradation cannot be allowed to go unchecked. On the other hand to say that industrialization and development must be stopped because of environmental pollution they create is not a workable solution. The answer lies in conducting research with different kinds of materials being thrown up by industry and human life. Attempts in this direction have been extremely fruitful. Not only have they helped in controlling pollution and unsanitary conditions they have led to innovations of great use to people.

The time has now come for the world community to avail the fruits of this research facility located in the metropolis of Karachi. The Gul Bahao Research Centre has been there for the last twenty years and can be linked up with other organizations the world over through internet facilities as well as through visits. What is important is financial help to keep it sustainable. Waste management is a very challenging subject. At this point, I appeal to organizations all over the world to chip in and help sustain this facility, with the aim of helping to control environmental degradation.

Chandi Ghar technology discussed with Chief Secretary Sindh

Yesterday, Gul Bahao’s Nargis Latif met the Chief Secretary Sindh Mr.Ejaz Chaudry. She lamented the fact that the government has not been able to take advantage of Gul Bahao’s research work in disaster management and rehabilitation. Nargis said that Gul Bahao had set up Chandi Ghars in Mansehra division during the earthquake of 2005 and then again during the floods of 2010 in Muzzafargarh and Thatta. According to her the Chandi Ghar has taken more than 16 years to evolve and has now won international acclaim through CNN and Voice of America. What is more she said that the educated middle class of Karachi has contributed heavily in Gul Bahao’s research work. Thousands of people living in Karachi have been in involved with their physical labor while others have contributed their hard earned money in it.

Nargis Latif informed the chief secretary Sindh that the Chandi Ghar is ideal for earthquake prone areas. When a conventional house made of bricks is hit by an earthquake it is reduced to rubble and cannot be put up again. On the other hand the blocks of the Chandi Ghar are modular and can be put up again in a matter of hours to form any kind of structure with the minimum of skills even after a massive earthquake strikes it.

The Chief Secretary replied that he had already sent a summary about the Chandi Ghar to the PDMA to coordinate with other relief agencies. Later in the day the managing trustee of Gul Bahao met with the director operations Mr Akhlaque Qureishi director operations of PDMA who assured Nargis Latif that his department would support both the immediate and long term goals of Gul Bahao. i.e helping to put up Chandi Ghars in the earthquake hit areas of Baluchistan and more important to introduce the Chandi Ghar as a model for relief and rehabilitation.

Talking to the press Nargis revealed that Gul Bahao has succeeded in putting up the world’s first Chandi Ghar assembling plant in Karachi. It has access to tonnes of raw material of the Chandi Ghar blocks which are basically left over clean plastic from some big factories of Karachi.

Chandi Ghar technology introduced to president of Pakistan, Mr.Mamnoon Hussain

To the President of Pakistan
Mr.Mamnoon Hussain

Dear sir,

First of all please accept my heartiest congratulations on becoming the President of the Islamic republic of Pakistan. It is our good fortune that you have been selected from our home town there by giving us easier access to you and conversely giving you a better understanding of Gul Bahao’s innovations which are set to make a big difference to the socioeconomic revival of Pakistan. For more details please visit our website http://gulbahao.com. Sir,I believe that the devastating floods drowning the villages of Pakistan can also serve as a blessing in disguise to the urban dwellers, the traders and youth of Karachi who can fulfil some of the basic needs of the villagers as well as generate income for themselves and improve on their skills .

Gul Bahao during the last 20 years of its existence and a monetary input of more than 8 crores has succeeded in coming up with unique innovations. Among them are the “Chandi” blocks which are modular i.e a two storeyed house can be converted into furniture or a small water reservoir and vice versa in just a few hours. They are all weather proof i.e cool in summer and warm in winter,strong against the elements and extremely cost effective. The raw material which is the clean plastic waste of Karachi’s factories is being brought to us at our doorsteps by some of these factories.

Sir, as you know that many of the flood affectees are those who live in the river beds or “kutcha areas”. For them the Chandi Ghar will be invaluable as they can be dismantled in a matter of hours whenever a flood warning is sounded. After dismantling, the Chandi Ghar can be reassembled again at a higher ground level. After the flood subsides they can return to the river bed again with all their belongings intact. The dismantling of the houses in the riverbed before the arrival of the floods will directly help in lessening the overflowing of the rivers. The alternative of the Chandi Ghar will also ensure that the flood affectees will then not have to rush to big cities, causing overcrowding and hence making them unsustainable.

During the last ten years or so Gul Bahao has been able to put up 150 Chandi Ghars in different parts of the country viz, Mansehra, Muzaffargarh, Thatta and Karachi. Thanks to this experience it has been able to refine its product to the extent that it has succeeded in bringing it at par with any other 21 st century innovation. What is more, it has been able to attract international attention as well. Both Voice of America and CNN have given it detailed coverage. International organisations like the UNDP, Clinton Foundation, German Embassy officials have taken keen interest in Gul Bahao’s research program. The list is long.

Ever since the start of the monsoon season we have speeded up our efforts to make Chandi Blocks, the basic unit of the Chandi Ghar. It is our greatest ambition to provide as many Chandi Ghars as possible. God willing they could run into thousands. For this we are also tapping the well off people of Karachi as well as educational institutions to donate cash or even recyclable waste which can be sold in the market. Gul Bahao intends to garner support from different strata of society like traders, professionals, educationists etc.

At this stage we need the moral support of the government. In this case we would be highly honored by your presence on the occasion of the departure of the first batch of Chandi blocks or alternately at a reception at the Arts Council to mark the event.

Waiting for an early reply,

I am,

Yours Sincerely

Nargis Latif

Chandi Ghars for flood affectees

Dear Sir,

Gul Bahao has been putting up prefabricated structures called Chandi Ghar for the last several years. The Chandi Ghar made its debut in the earthquake of 2005 in the Mansehra region. With the passage of time thanks to continuous research and experimentation we have come up with a product which is quick to put up long lasting, clean, good looking and very cost effective (between Rs,15,000 – 25,000 ) So far in the last several years we have been able to put up more than 80 Chandi Ghars in Mansehra, Muzzafarghar and Thatta as well as the slum areas of Karachi.

Now we plan to put up 10 ‘x12’ sized Chandi Ghars in flood affected areas of the country with the help of other NGOs as well as through administrative help from the government of the relevant districts at the earliest possible.

The importance of this scheme lies not only in the immediate putting up of these houses but also as a model to be emulated all over the world.

I therefore appeal to you in all earnestness to support us by donating for as many houses as is possible. We on our part will make sure that your help is acknowledged and publicized.

Yours Sincerely,
Nargis Latif (Managing trustee Gul Bahao)

Prefabricated housing

For the last several years, it has been observed that new kinds of challenges spring up during the sacred month of Ramazan. Yesterday, while the city was being battered with rain Gul Bahao’s team under the supervision of its technical chief D. Alim was putting final touches to its latest innovation of prefabricated roofing.

Till the writing of this piece, the Environment Museum stands out on main Rashid Minhas Road, its silver facade glittering in the sun, while not a drop of rain water has entered its 20ft x 40ft hall, despite record breaking rain.

Talking to the press Nargis Latif of Gul Bahao claimed that the organization’s Environment Museum which was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor of Karachi University on 5th June has all the solutions for disaster management as well as to preempt disasters, the city witnessed during the heavy rainfall.

Gul Bahao has truly gone into the nitti gritty of waste management which is the root cause of the flooding of the city’s roads. Nargis said that at the inauguration of the Environment museum she had warned of “Karachi being drowned in gutter water but nobody listened, she lamented.

Talking about Gul Bahao’s latest innovations, the managing trustee of Gul Bahao said rain proof roof has been made for single storied Chandi Ghars using light weight blocks made from waste (but clean) thermo- pole pieces arranged in the form of slopes. The important aspect of this is that this double roofing can be put in a matter of hours.

During the holy month of Ramazan another experiment is being made to make water proof tarpaulins. This has two advantages

  1. Raw material is plastic waste which would otherwise enter the sewerage system and block it
  2. It is cheap so that the poorest of the poor can afford it in times of inclement weather.

Another innovation thrown up by Gul Bahao during heavy rains is for low lying areas. This is especially useful for factory owners who would like to save their millions of rupees worth of goods from being submerged in rain water. These are 10-20 kgs heavy “Wastic Blocks” which can form a platform in a few minutes.

Nargis Latif said that the museum is open to all traders, manufacturers, policy makers, scientists and professionals. She said the projects on display at the museum should be especially attractive for businessmen as these require very little investment but whose profits could be immense both money wise as well as for handling and preempting natural disasters.

Concluding, Gul Bahao has appealed to the incumbent President of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussein to visit Pakistan’s Environment Museum which has taken 20 years to emerge at a cost of more than 8 crores.