Abstract:
In Pakistan 35% of the population lives below the poverty line and the infrastructure that supports them
greatly falls behind on their needs, is indeed a frightening sight.
Taking example from foreign precedents that were successful in tackling this famine of poverty, the basis
of the project was derived. Existing facilities that cater to the poverty stricken population lack initiative
and permanent solutions. What as architects can we do?
Architects have a unique insight of human nature, context and built fabric. Utilizing that insight a solution
to bring about real change in the lives of the less fortunate can be devised. The change needs to be
initiated from a smaller scale and in time evolve into a system that caters a substantial percentage of the
population.
The way forward is to uplift on a community level and to ground the project on the basis of context and
the users. A prototype needs to be developed which can be replicated to bring change on a large scale.
The aim is to create a skill development institute that will become a tool to uplift the community through
instilling valuable skills that are sought out in the market which will help the users become financially
self-sustaining and independent. It will act as a hub of communal activities, a sort of community center
for those in the immediate context and programs will be provided that will result in the influx of non
contextual users and economic opportunities.
