VISION

Shehersaaz envisions a Pakistan having its cities and other human settlements as places where humans, and natural and built environment exist and thrive in harmony. This means these should be places that are:

  • Resilient to natural and human made disasters and freer from safety risks, conflicts and crimes;
  • Physically functional and aesthetically appealing;
  • Cohesive to natural environment and responsive to climate;
  • Socially inclusive, culturally vibrant and tolerant to diversity;
  • Economically efficient and equitable;
  • Designed, planned, managed and governed with best practices.

MISSION

Shehersaaz’s mission is to become a specialized and dedicated civil society organization with a spirit, knowledge, experience; and technical, financial and human resources to strive for its vision and to effectively and meaningfully contribute to making cities and other human settlements of Pakistan liveable, inclusive, humane, compassionate, safe, resilient and sustainable by working in collaboration with citizens, communities, private sector, government and other stakeholders. In short it will be a ‘Trust of Cities and Citizens’.

CORE VALUES

  • Inclusiveness i.e. adoption of policies and practices of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or mental disabilities or belonging to minority groups;
  • Innovation;
  • Trust and openness to listen, to share with and learn from one another that facilitates consensus building and mutual understanding;
  • Transparency and mutual accountability;
  • Participation of intended beneficiaries in activities, projects and programs;
  • Consultative and democratic decision making;
  • Gender equity;
  • Cultural and environmental sensitivity;
  • Acknowledgement, respect for, and accommodation of diversity of identities, needs and perspectives;
  • Commitment to work together within the organization; with government, stakeholders, and beneficiaries;
  • Efficiency and effectiveness;
  • Do-no-harm;
  • No exploitation;
  • Respect for human dignity;
  • Independence from any religious or party political affiliation.

GOALS

  • To further the welfare of people and their communities by making cities and other human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, sustainable, convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient and attractive for present and future generations;
  • To promote the conservation, protection and enhancement of the natural and built environments;
  • To promote the sustainable management and use of natural resources and the culture of sustainable consumption and production;
  • To promote the means by which the effects of public and private decision- making that relates to physical, social and economic changes and development properly reflects the stated and agreed values and aspirations of the communities affected by them;
  • To improve the resilience of communities and urban and rural human settlements to climate change and natural and human-made hazards and disasters;
  • To work with government, communities, and other stakeholders for achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are relevant to Shehersaaz’s mandate; and implementation of New Urban Agenda (Habitat III); Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Paris Agreement on Climate Change; and other relevant international conventions and covenants signed or ratified, as the case may be, by Government of Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES

In pursuing the above goals, the objectives of Shehersaaz shall be:

  1. To advance and promote the theory and practice of Urban and Regional Planning and Management;
  2. To promote participatory community development techniques and practices for sustainable urban and regional development and management;
  3. To utilize a suitable mixture of scientific findings, technological advancements and indigenous knowledge in current and future Urban and Regional Development and Management practices and policies;
  4. To focus greater attention on the development of marginalized and previously unnoticed and unheard sections of urban communities;
  5. To provide technical assistance and advice to the agencies currently involved in or their mandate or work is relevant to the process of Urban and Regional Planning, Development and Management. Such agencies may include federal and provincial planning and development agencies, local government institutions, private firms, NGOs, CBOs and community initiatives;
  6. To gather, analyse and disseminate the information and knowledge of emerging issues of importance and problem solving techniques that have direct or indirect relevance to sustainable urban and regional development and management;
  7. To undertake research, policy advocacy, awareness, training, development, welfare and humanitarian projects and programs for the achievement of Shehersaaz’s goals;
  8. To provide a common and effective forum and platform for urban and regional planners, architects, engineers, social scientists, community leaders and representatives, government institutions, national and international organizations and above all, the concerned citizens who have stake in the process of urban and regional planning, development and management;
  9. To establish a training institute/Centre of Excellence to provide training to concerned stakeholders for the promotion of sustainable urban and regional development and management.