Gul Bahao

Into the 21st century with new ideas from Gul Bahao

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.

Zakaat for Gul Bahao

Aslama Alaikum.This is to request you to give your Zakaat to Gul Bahao. As you are aware Gul Bahao has been working tirelessly for the upliftment of the society since the last seventeen years.Thousands of people in Karachi have benefited from Gul Bahao’s scheme, “Kachra Do Sona Lo”. While Gul Bahao has discouraged scavenging from garbage dumps it has given the alternative of the Safai/Kamai Bank where wastage is bought and sold in a scientific and hygienic manner. Through this scheme Gul Bahao is fighting for its goal of employment unlimited. Poor people are being shown how to earn money honestly.

Eleven lacs worth of pre fabricated shelters were sent to earthquake areas. We have even provided very low cost shelters called “Chandi Ghar” to the poorest of the poor when their huts were burnt. During the last one year we provided houses to the flood affectees Muzzafargarh and Thatta.

Our research center which is also working as a disaster management center has developed many other products and concepts of tremendous use to the common man. These include:

1. Low cost subsidized housing.
2. Water purification techniques.
3. Cheap fodder for livestock
4. Alternative energy for lighting stoves etc

We have also conducted advocacy programs for the dissemination of authentic translations of the Holy Quran. This has been in the form of exhibitions producing cards, lectures, reading to the general public.

In order to achieve all this the Organization has had to give tremendous sacrifices in terms of money, time and peace of mind.

I shall be extremely grateful if you would deposit your zakat by western union. For information about making a donation please contact us or inform us on telephone numbers 32250452, 03012754469 and 03338869491 or by SMS.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

Nargis Latif,
Managing Trustee, Gul Bahao

Pakistan’s first Environment Museum inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Karachi University

People of Karachi traveling on the NIPA bridge witnessed a rare spectacle on Environment Day. A 20′ x 40′ beautifully constructed prefabricated “Chandi Ghar” glittering and shimmering in the blazing sun. A twenty member group of the alumni of Karachi University called Unikarians headed by the Vice chancellor of Karachi University had come to inaugurate Pakistan’s first Environment Museum.

Nargis latif the chairperson of Gul Bahao showed the group around an impressive display of recycled products invented by the organization. “There are lots of people making handicrafts from waste material. But Gul Bahao’s mission is to recycle in order to make commercially viable products”, she revealed.

At the entrance to the museum was the Gardens in the Air. The visitors were amazed to know that spinach,onions, cattle feed etc was being grown 20 -30 ft. Above the air in small shoppers containing manure made from municipal waste. Another section of the museum showed the latest venture of the organization. Waterproof tarpaulins made from shoppers and wrappers (packing material). Nargis said a good deal of waste generated from factories is clean waste which may be considered virgin material and treated like any other raw material.

A huge water reservoir was the Centre of attraction. Again the guests were fascinated to learn that the chandi blocks were converted into swimming pools as well as household furniture . The inside of the chandi hall was full of sofas, a master bed and tables tastefully arranged.

In his inaugural speech Vice Chancellor lauded the services of Nargis Latif and said that he has been following Gul Bahao’s activities for quite some time.