Housing Nasirabad

The majority of houses in the district are made of clay and red (baked) bricks. Those made of baked bricks have thick mud plaster coating. The baking of bricks and the plastering is done by the villagers themselves or by those engaged in the business at low cost. An average house has two to three living rooms with a gallery. Some houses also have a barn. Flush cisterns, commodes and wash basins do not exist in rural houses. Houses in Dera Murad Jamali are similar to those in the rural areas. There are a few privately owned houses with a flush system and modern amenities, mostly in government owned houses. There is one big residential colony in D.M.Jamali belonging to the Irrigation Department. There is another one belonging to WAPDA.

There are very few old buildings in Nasirabad district. There is not any special architectural style. Most houses are 30 to 50 years old.

Tenure

Fifty-four percent of the houses in the district are privately owned, 43 percent is rent free and 3 percent is rented. The rented houses in the district are limited to Dera Murad Jamali. Because of the joint family system and close family/tribal set-up, the number of rent free houses is large.

Construction Material

As mentioned earlier, the houses in the district are made of clay and baked bricks with thick clay or mud topping and roofing. Doors and windows are made of wood. Iron grills are rare. The use of cement, iron and tiles is not common. Mortar is used for floor boards. Joints are made of wood.

Sources of Energy

Seventy-three percent of the district has electricity. Gas is limited to D.M.Jamali and a few villages. For industrial and mechanical/agricultural purpose, electricity is the major source of energy. Both gas and electricity are used for cooking and heating purpose. The houses without electricity rely on kerosene, oil and wood. The use of dung cake is commonly used among poor people, even in areas with electricity and gas. Some people use a diesel run generator for agricultural and domestic purposes in the areas without electricity.

Housing Characteristics

The houses are knit together in rural areas. The villages lie at close distance from each other. Because of the hot weather, in most houses cooking is done outside or under a shelter. The government owned houses and those belonging to rich people have separate bathrooms and kitchens.

Drinking Water and Sanitation

In D.M.Jamali water and sewerage pipes do not function properly and are often blocked. In rural areas drinking water comes from tanks and canals. Traditionally the water is filtered by keeping it in a jar or drum for several hours and then poured into another one. Eighty-six percent of all houses in the district is without proper drainage, human waste disposal facilities and sewerage system.

   Back to Nasirabad