THIS VOLUME CONSISTS almost entirely of detailed survey maps of 100 katchi abadis (informal settlements) in Karachi. For each katchi abadi there are four maps which show:
· location in the larger city, and relevant statistics on population, area, households and development efforts;
· sewerage lines, drains and nalas (natural drains);
· water supply lines; and
· clinics, schools and thallas (manufacturing yards for building components).
Statistics for all 100 katchi abadis are presented in tabular form at the front of the volume, along with a careful estimation of the investments made by people and government agencies. Out of 6,352 lanes with 66,000 houses, half of all sewerage lines and 26 per cent of water lines were set up by self-help. People's investment in these 100 settlements was responsible for nearly half the total investment in water and sanitation within neighbourhoods and more than one-quarter of external development (water and sewer mains). People's investment was also responsible for 97 per cent of all health clinics and 67 per cent of schools.

This volume is meant primarily for use in Karachi as it provides detailed maps in 100 settlements that show each house and each sewage line/ drain and water supply line i.e., the baseline information on which any improvements can be planned. It is meant to support what OPP term component sharing – people developing neighbourhood-level sewerage and water lines through self-help, and government complementing this by providing the main sewerage/ drains and water mains into which neighbourhood-level provision can fit. The concept can be extended to health care and to schools. But the volume will also be of interest to other local groups intent on developing comparable baseline surveys and to teaching and training institutions that teach skills for water and sanitation, upgrading and community management.