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Orangi Pilot Project (OPP):
The Orangi Pilot Project is based in Karachi, Pakistan. The OPP started on a self help basis. It was initially funded by Agha Hassan Abadi of BCCI and non-governmental organizations, but now, after the great success of the OPP, other organizations, including International Agencies, are also contributing. It has become a huge project. The OPP comprises of around 100,000 houses in which about one million people live. It spreads over 8000 acres of land. The project has been constantly growing since its inception. People who live in these houses at the OPP are Biharis, Pathan, Mohajirs, Punjabis, Balochis and Sindhis from Pakistan. They have different professions such as skilled and unskilled laborers, shopkeepers, low income workers, and artisans.

The OPP's Program:
....... "OPP has been operating a number of programs. These programs include a people's financed and managed Low-Cost Sanitation Program; a Housing Program; a Basic Health and Family Planning Program; a Program of Supervised Credit For Small Family Enterprise Units; an education Program; and a rural Development Program in the villages".......... Source: Orangi Pilot Project: Reminiscences and Reflections. Author: Akhtar Hameed Khan and publisher, Oxford University Press.

Studies and Research:
Akhtar Hameed Khan's work has been so successful that there are studies and research being conducted on his projects in different domestic and international organizations, including international universities. Two students in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph, Canada did research studies on the OPP.

Replication of his projects and OPP's Consulting Services:
Dr Khan’s concept of community development is being replicated in many regions.

The OPP approach of self managed and self financed low cost sanitation has been replicated since 1990 by NGOs, donor agencies (UNICEF, World Bank), and official agencies.

OPP-RTI has been appointed a consultant by UNICEF, World Bank, Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority (SKAA), and the Karachi Municipal Committee.

OPP-RTI is a consultant for replication in the following cities: Hyderabad (World Bank), Sukker (a UNICEF Project), Peshawar (UNICEF), Lahore (two NGO’s: YCHR and Yohanabad), Gujranwala (NGO) and Faisalabad (CURITAS).

In Karachi, the OPP is working closely with the Karachi Municipal Committee, Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority, and NGO’a in eleven different areas: Jamali Colony, Mujahid Colony, Mianwali Colony, Welfare Colony, Madina Colony , Muslimabad, Manzoor Colony, Pirabad, Mohammad pur, Islamia Colony and Bhitai Colony.

OPP-RTI was also a consultant for the Asian Development Bank-Karachi Municipal Committee project in Gulshan Bihar, Orangi.

Visitors to the OPP:
Many government officials and representatives from other international and domestic agencies/organizations constantly visit this huge project for training as well as to get oriented with the project. The OPP promotes co-operative action and community organization. In the early 80's, an agreement was signed among the government of Pakistan and the United Nations Center for Human Settlements(UNCHS) for funding the OPP Project.

The OPP Project has four autonomous institutions:
1)The OPP Society. It is responsible for channeling funds.
2)The OPP Research and Training Institute(RTI). It has many functions including managing housing, sanitation, forestry, etc. RTI provides technical support to government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others.
3)Orangi Charitable Trust. It manages the credit programs.
4)Karachi Health and Social Development Association. It manages all health related program.

Financial Support:
After it was proved to be successful, the OPP started receiving financial support from international non-governmental organizations as well as multi and bi-lateral agencies. However it was initially started with the help of the BCCI.

OPP Staff:
It consists of professionals, technicians, and social organizers.

1)Professionals:
The professional staff is comprised of architects, economists, engineers, etc.

2)Technicians:
The technical staff comprises of surveyors, draughtsmen, and plumbers.

3)Social Organizers:
The social organizers have been mostly involved in the OPP project from the day of its inception.

The OPP's Association With Academic Institutions in Pakistan are:
1) The Agha Khan Medical University
2) Dawood College
3) Baqai Medical University

Listed below are some links related to Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan and his projects:
The sanitation gap: Development's deadly menace
by Akhtar Hameed Khan
This has been published by UNICEF.
http://www.unicef.org

Sufism and the art of urban healing
by Tarik Ali Khan
Published by Himal (South Asian Magazine) on August 1998 Vol 11 No 8
http://www.himalmag.com

Interview of Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan
Published by Himal on Aug 1998 Vol 11 No 8
http://www.himalmag.com

OPP Contact Information:
Orangi Pilot Project (OPP)
Plot No. St-4 Sector 5/A, Qasba Colony
Manghopir Road, Karachi 75800, Pakistan
Tel: 92 21 665 2297 or 92 21 665 8021 or 92 21 666 5696
Fax 92 21 669 9347
E-mail: opp@cyber.net.pk or opprti@cyber.net.pk
http://www.oppinstitutions.com