Pakistan: The British Asian Christian Association is nearing completion of its first ever safe house for persecuted Christians in Pakistan. Rising construction costs driven in part by regional instability and the Iran–Israel conflict have placed additional financial pressure on the project. 

Built with reinforced double-brick walls and multiple security checkpoints, the refuge is designed to protect vulnerable families fleeing persecution and violence. 

Construction has now reached the roofing stage, with additional security features including steel gates and CCTV systems still required. 

BACA is appealing for donations to help complete the project and provide a safe haven for Christians facing crisis situations amid escalating material and labour costs. 

A Refuge Built With Security in Mind 

Unlike a standard residential property, the safe house has been carefully designed with security as its highest priority. 

The structure has been built using thick double-brick walls to provide additional protection and durability. Multiple internal checkpoints have also been incorporated throughout the building to help safeguard both staff and the persecuted families who may seek shelter there during times of crisis. 

For security reasons, the exact location of the safe house will remain strictly confidential and disclosed only on a need-to-know basis. 

As persecution cases in Pakistan continue to rise — particularly involving false blasphemy accusations, forced conversions, mob violence, and targeted intimidation — the need for secure emergency accommodation has become increasingly urgent. 

Construction Progress Continues 

On 21st May, the project architect visited the construction site to inspect the progress and ensure that all safety standards and structural measures are being properly implemented. 

With the walls now complete, the next major phase includes roofing installation and the addition of several key security features essential to the operation of the safe house. 

These include: 

Two reinforced steel security gates 

CCTV cameras monitoring both sides of the street outside the property 

A secure foyer area monitored by CCTV, allowing staff to screen all entrants before they enter the main building. This controlled access point helps prevent unauthorised entry and limits the number of people able to enter at any one time. 

The safe house is intended to serve as a vital refuge for persecuted Christians forced to flee their homes because of threats, violence, or false accusations. It will also provide a secure operational base for our staff and the safe storage of important records and documentation. 

Progress underway on BACA’s safe house project. 

A Vision of Protection and Hope 

For many Christian families in Pakistan, escaping persecution often means abandoning homes, employment, education, and community ties with nowhere safe to go. 

This safe house will provide temporary shelter, security, and practical support to individuals and families facing immediate danger, helping them stabilise during some of the darkest moments of their lives. 

BACA believes this project represents more than just a building — it is a symbol of hope, protection, and solidarity for vulnerable Christians who too often suffer in silence. BACA hopes the construction work will be finalised by the end of May, marking an important milestone in a long-awaited initiative dedicated to protecting victims of persecution. 

Help Us Complete This Safe House 

Although construction is progressing well, further support is urgently needed to complete the remaining security and infrastructure work. 

Recent regional instability, including the Iran–Israel conflict and wider tensions involving the United States, has significantly contributed to rising construction costs in Pakistan. Over recent months, the Pakistani market has experienced a sharp increase in the price of essential building materials, placing additional pressure on humanitarian construction projects such as the BACA Safe House. 

For example, the price of a bag of cement has increased from Rs. 1,400 (£3.67) in December to Rs. 1,600 (£4.32). The cost of bricks has also risen substantially, from Rs. 19,000 (£50.75) per 1,000 bricks in December to Rs. 23,000 (£61.44) per 1,000 bricks. 

Other key construction materials have seen continued price increases over the past several months. Steel bars increased from Rs. 240 per kilogram in December to Rs. 260 per kilogram in February, and have now reached Rs. 286 per kilogram in May. Similarly, crushed stone (“crush”) rose from Rs. 110 per cubic foot in December to Rs. 130 per cubic foot in February, and currently stands at Rs. 160 per cubic foot in May. 

In addition, the costs of labour, transportation, electrical materials, sand, and other essential supplies have also increased considerably. 

These rising prices have directly impacted the construction costs of the BACA Safe House project. As a result, additional funding is urgently needed to complete the remaining work, including roofing, wall plastering, flooring, electrical installation, security measures, and interior finishing. 

Your donation can help fund: 

Roofing completion 

Reinforced steel security gates 

CCTV surveillance systems 

Essential furnishings and additional safety measures 

Emergency accommodation support for persecuted families 

Remaining construction, electrical, flooring, and interior work 

While the safe house will begin operating without a full-time security team, we are also seeking to raise additional funds over the coming year to establish a permanent 24-hour security presence. This would help ensure that vulnerable beneficiaries staying at the safe house are provided with the highest possible level of safety and protection. 

We urgently need at least £3,000 more to complete the remaining construction and essential safety work, as well as to furnish the safe house and install the necessary security systems.