The Orangi Pilot Project – Research and Training Institute (OPP-RTI) has transformed the Orangi settlement in Karachi, Pakistan, by helping residents improve sanitation, housing, and community services through self-help. Started in 1980 by social scientist Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan, the project focuses on empowering people to solve their own problems instead of relying on outside aid.
Orangi, home to 1.2m people, once lacked proper sanitation, leading to widespread waterborne diseases. OPP-RTI worked with residents to install low-cost underground sewerage, build over 99,000 household toilets, and lay more than 1.6 million feet of sewer lines. Once streets became clean, families invested in upgrading their homes, spending an average of $1,750 each.
To tackle poor housing, OPP-RTI improved local building materials, introduced simple construction designs, and trained masons and para-architects. Stronger concrete blocks and low-cost load-bearing techniques allowed 2,500 homes to be built or upgraded annually. Local production of quality blocks grew, increasing jobs and incomes, with 30–40% of blocks exported to nearby areas.
The project also empowers women and youth through education, health programmes, and microcredit. Women run small businesses, and community schools now serve 26,000 children. Health initiatives reduced infant mortality and improved hygiene.
OPP-RTI’s approach—community-led, low-cost, and sustainable—has been replicated in 245 settlements and 17 cities in Pakistan, benefiting over 1.5m people, and shared internationally in countries like Nepal, Vietnam, and South Africa.
By combining sanitation, housing, education, and income generation, OPP-RTI improves living conditions, strengthens community ownership, and ensures lasting social and environmental impact while remaining financially sustainable through local contributions.
