UPDATES

• We have registered with various regulatory authorities in Pakistan to import goods from all over the world under our company name.
• We have finished alpha and beta testing three distinct cookstove technologies (1.5m parabolic cookstove, evacuated tube cookstove and a range of clean cookstoves) across seven distinct but adjoining communities across sub-urban Lahore (Bhatta Chowk, Mehr Town, Chathianwala, Nathasingwala, Vara Shaadi, Bedian and Vara Jattanwala).
• So far, we have established direct contact with 239 households across these communities.
• We will conduct approximately 400 additional door-to-door surveys before selecting a community for our second pilot project.
•  We have established strategic partnerships with the Social Innovation Lab, the provincial Government of Gilgit Baltistan (where 85% of the population lives off the grid) and Aga Khan Rural Support Program, to help us scale after proof of concept.  

Interviews with community members from off-grid communities from Mehr Town, Bedian and Chattianwala speaking on prevelant issues such as lack of information of harmful effects solid fuel fumes, poverty, dangers and expense of using LPG cylinders as a cleaner alternative. 

3 billion people on the planet still have no access to energy and live in remote, off-grid communities. Energy poverty has marginalized half the planet, leaving them behind in conditions comparable to the way people lived in the stone ages.

According to WHO, fatalities due to inefficient fuel combustion indoors and exposure to black carbon from traditional cook stoves is the second most leading causing of death in the world today.  Approximately 4.3 Million people die prematurely each year from Chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), stroke, cancer and other Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) associated with small soot particles that can penetrated deep into the lungs  more than HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Yet public policy has failed to mobilize the kind of funds to raise awareness that have been directed to less life threatening issues. Women and children are particularly at risk, since they are mainly responsible for household chores and remain near the hearth. More than 50% of premature deaths of children under the age of 5 are caused by soot particles and black carbon inhaled from the inefficient combustion of solid fuel indoors. The heavy usage of solid fuels in traditional cook stoves and open fires in the homes introduces a range of harmful pollutants such as black carbon, soot particles and carbon monoxide. In poorly vented homes, fine life threatening pollutants exceed acceptable levels of air quality by 100 fold. 

The use of firewood also has adverse financial implications for people already living under USD 2 per day. In most cases households are spending over 25% of their monthly income to procure firewood, or spending an inordinate amount of time harvesting firewood. This is time and money that could be spent, studying, engaging/investing in entrepreneurial cottage industry or savings. Illnesses directly associated with exposure to fumes that do not result in fatalities, cause a spike in medical expenses and incapacitate victims from continuing to work, increasing expenses and decreasing monthly income, perpetuating a vicious cycle of poverty.

Pakistan has one of the highest rates of deforestation in Asia and its reduced forest cover of 2.4% - 5% is rapidly decreasing by 47,000 hectares every year. According to experts, Pakistan’s diminishing forest covers will completely be depleted in 2020-2025. In contrast, the benchmark of a healthy forest cover for any country is set at 20% - 30%.The large scale of deforestation has led to several tree species becoming endangered and with it the animal species whose natural habitat has been completely destroyed. 

The ramifications of heavy deforestation in the North have been, at least in part, been blamed for the catastrophic floods in 2010.  The lack of once dense woodlands on the streams and rivers leave the banks prone to erosion and landing sliding. The forests that act as natural barriers, decelerating raging flood waters, now gone, caused widespread carnage all the way to the South, effecting 20 Million people.

Black carbon (sooty particles) and methane emitted by inefficient stove combustion are powerful climate change pollutants. It is suggested that black carbon emissions have contributed equivalent to 25% - 50% of carbon dioxide warming globally. Use for firewood in North Pakistan intensifies the regional climate impacts as black carbon falling on white snow and ice, decreases its reflectiveness and contributes significantly to accelerating the glacier melt. This in turn can lead to a disruption in annual monsoon cycles and further floods.

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The Newsletter
 

• 09
  Feb
  

  Friends! Backers! 

  HELLO AGAIN :) 

  As promised, we are working on preparing various rewards for you all - a big thank you for all your support and effort in making our very first crowdfuning campaign a roaring success! 

  We will be getting in touch with each of you individually to confirm your specific order and your shipping details. 

  For some of you the goods will be ready and delivered in March 2017; for certain others, we will be looking to get you your 'goodies' around early to Mid April  2017. 

  Hang in there folks! 

  All our best, 

  JAAN PAKISTAN TEAM  

   

  Update from 09 Feb - Read More
• 2017
  
• 27
  Dec
  

  Dear Supporters! 

  Thank you for the enormous effort you have all put in to make Jaan Pakistan a reality - we are proud to tell you that we have exceeded our GBP 15,000 goal and are only 101 pounds short of 16,500 pounds. 

  There are only 10 hours before the campaign comes to an end. This really is the last stretch. Please help us expand on our goal as much as you possibly can! Share the crowdfnding page with your friends on Facebook - this will hopefully only take a minute of your time, but can result in significant rewards for us! 

  Also watch this space for more on your specific orders! 

  All the best, 

  Jaan Pakistan Team 

  Our crowdfunding page: https://www.theupeffect.com/the-new-era-of-outdoor-cooking-has-arrived/

  Update from 27 Dec - Read More
• 16
  Dec
  

  Friends! Supporters! Backers!

  You are one of 48 people who have helped Jaan Pakistan find success in its first crowdfunding campaign! 

  We have already exceeded our goal by GBP 1,340 and are looking to stretch the goal itself from GBP 15,000 to GBP 30,000 in the next 12 days. This will help us broaden the scope of our pilot project and allow us to add more accessories to the reward packages!  

  Anyway - a massive thanks to all those who have helped us get this far and a simple request before you hear from us again: please share our crowdfunding platform within your networks! Help us reach our new goal. 

  All the best, 

  Jaan Pakistan Team 

   

  Update from 16 Dec - Read More
• 05
  Dec
  

  Friends! Supporters! Backers! 

  We crossed the 80% milestone within 4 days of the campaign! Our Concave and Saber stoves are doing excpetionally well and a big thanks to you for you 'quick-draw-mc-graw' wild wild west pledging and contributions. In case my analogy was 'off target' (pun intended), 'thank you for your prompt response'. 

  We have three additional pieces of information for all our backers: (1) meeting the goal is 25% of the job; stretching it is the real game (2) our first stretch goal is GBP 30,000; second is GBP 50,000; third is GBP 80,000 and fourth is GBP 120,000 (3) how far we go in this journey entirely depends on how you represent us within your own networks so please write to your friends and family about Jaan Pakistan (4) with every stretch goal, your reward becomes bigger, smarter and better - so there's a little something in it for all of us.

  Thanks again for all your love and support before and through this campaign! 

  All the best,

  The Jaan Pakistan  Team 

  Update from 05 Dec - Read More
• 2016
  

Does your business impact low-income communities? How?

Firewood and dung cakes are commonly used as cooking fuel across low-income, off-grid Pakistan. Our business primarily addresses the energy needs of such communities. Affluent communities on the other hand already have access to natural gas pipelines (which is a clean and affordable cooking fuel in the first place).

Who are your competitors and what products or services do they provide? How are you different/better than your competitors?

Liquid Petroleum Gas Cylinders also provide clean cooking. Still, they are problematic because ill-maintained cylinders are prone to exploding and potentially fatal. Also, they impose a recurring fuel cost, and the initial cost of owning a gas cylinder can be prohibitive for many customers - there are no known lending plans for LPG Gas Cylinders. Conversely, our technologies confront none of the aforementioned challenges. Our unique selling proposition: we harness energy that's typically free.

What is your business model? How do you plan to generate revenue?

Jaan Pakistan has two product lines: one for affluent, urban-dwelling customers (adventure enthusiasts interested in outdoor portable cooking); and a second for low-income, off-grid communities across rural Pakistan (individuals adversely affected by solid fuel fumes and inefficient cookstoves). The urban market already has the necessary education and purchasing power to buy our product. The rural market needs convincing and we intend to fund the promotion through urban sales. In three years, we plan to replicate our pilot project in 12 distinct geographies across Pakistan and use Human Centered Design principles to identify and produce the most appropriate mix of clean cookstoves for off-grid Pakistan.