KAPIT has been working with earthquake-stricken communities to build permanent shelters since mid-October 2005 and the work is going on through the winter months. KAPIT is involved in:
-- providing an architectural design solution that uses local materials and technology that can be built by communities themselves and incorporates earthquake-resistant measures; technical drawing sets and illustrations of the design have been distributed for free in a building manual and poster format
-- involving volunteers who are building trade professionals (architects, engineers, construction managers, and advanced students) to guide the construction process on site; students and faculty from local universities (Department of Architecture- University of Engineering and Technology Abbottabad, Department of Architecture-COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Department of Architecture-University of Karachi) as well as international academies (American University of Sharjah, Glasgow University) also continue to participate in the initiative
-- arranging for the provision of building materials and tools that are not available locally (lime, GI flyproofing mesh, chicken wire, GI roofing sheets, spades, axes, hand-trollies etc).
KAPIT has also initiated research efforts to document local/traditional and international building practices in relation to earthquake-resistance. [7 Jan. 2006].