Regional Director, IUCN Asia, Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji held meeting with the Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Government of Sindh in Karachi. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji said that National Conservation Strategy (NCS) had clearly indicated the possible implications of LBOD but no heed was given at that time.

She said that IUCN could provide assistance in controlling further devastation and could assist Planning & Development Department in implementing the Sindh Strategy.

She said that the southern part of the country needed more attention from donors, and in this regard both government and non-government sectors could play a vital role to get due attention from the donors. She suggested adopting proactive approach for getting donors back in the Province so that range of environmental and developmental issues could be tackled.

Earlier, the Additional Chief Secretary, Mr. Khero welcomed Ms. Kabraji and her team. “Sindh is facing enormous environmental challenges and Government of Sindh is committed to address these challenges in collaboration with the organizations like The World Conservation Union (IUCN)”, he said. He informed that Left Bank Outfall Drain Project has affected the ecological and social conditions in Badin and in recent rains situation has further aggravated in many parts of lower Sindh. Environmental conditions of deltaic areas have been affected, while the livelihood of century old fishermen community is at stake. With the proper management and planning, such kind of episodes could be avoided in future, he added.

Mr. Khero said that forest coverage in Sindh has decreased alarmingly due to various factors. However, current monsoon and flooding in Indus River will have positive impact on the riverine forests. He added that Sindh has tremendous potential of tourism as there are numerous locations for eco-tourism which are yet to be explored and exploited. He acknowledged IUCN’s support to the department in the formulation of Sindh Strategy for Sustainable Development (SSSD), which has been developed through extensive consultative process.

The Secretary Planning & Development Department, Mohammad Hashim Leghari highlighted the importance of enforcement of environmental laws and said without it no significant development can take place. Shams ul Haq Memon of Coastal Development Authority said Government of Sindh and IUCN have long association and in forthcoming Sindh Coastal and Inland Community Development Project, IUCN would be involved. He said more efforts were required at programmatic level to address the diverse issues of environment and development in the province. Nasir Ali Panhwar said that at District level IUCN has provided support to District Government Badin for development of District Vision.

The meeting was also attended by the Special Secretary P&DD, Rehana Ghulam Ali, Chief Economist, Mohammad Ali Khaskhali, Chief Foreign Aid, Hasan Ali and Saleem Jalbani while the IUCN delegation was comprised on the Country Group Head 2, Ms. Nikhat Sattar, Country Representative IUCNP, Sohail Malik, Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Hamid Sarfraz, Tahir Qureshi and Nasir Ali Panhwar.