KARACHI, Feb 22: Sector-specific
strategies on water, wetlands and freshwater fisheries in
Sindh were discussed at a consultative workshop held here
on Tuesday.
The participants highlighted the major issues pertaining
to the sectors along with recommendations to bring about
changes. The sector-specific strategies would be part
of Sindh Strategy for Sustainable Development, which is
being formulated by Sindh Planning and Development Department
in collaboration with international union for conservation
of nature (IUCN-Pakistan).
Secretary Environment Shamsul Haq Memon and Dr Ejaz Ahmed
from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Pakistan) among others
addressed at the workshop. They said that the sector-specific
strategies would provide guidance to government, planners,
policy makers, civil society and the private sector in
promoting sustainable development within the field.
Besides, the strategies would help government departments
to develop their respective annual development plans.
The participants pointed out that water-logging and salinity
had affected over 50 per cent of area in Sindh due to
faulty irrigation practices and lack of drainage. They
called for participatory irrigation and drainage policy,
which should involve farmers to implement programmes.
They suggested that all research institutes should be
involved in research and development in water sector.
They said that technical research might be communicated
through agriculture extension programmes as well as teaching
programmes.
Underlining the need to invest in research and water
conservation, they stressed that water efficient crops
and introduction of land levelling should be promoted.
Besides, they recommended that groundwater level should
be assessed to ensure that excess extraction may not take
place.
About fresh water fisheries, the participants suggested
that contract-based system in terms of access to water
bodies should be discouraged, instead, fishermen cooperative
societies from village to district level should be set
up.
They also underlined the need to maintain data on fish
stocks and harvest for sustainable exploitation, conservation
and stock replenishment. Abandoned infrastructures (sick
units, unproductive hatchery units) should be handed over
to fishermen to run these on a cooperative basis. Besides,
infrastructure facilities including roads, electricity
and transport to fish farms must be provided.
They called for conducting a comprehensive training programme
for fishermen on better fishing methods, use of gear,
conservation and protection of marine ecosystem from over-exploitation,
harmful fishing nets and pollution. Development of fish
farming industry should be encouraged by providing technical
expertise, credit facilities and sufficient supply of
quality fish seed.
The workshop urged the protection of inland waters from
pollution which are already affected due to reduced supply
from Indus River. Moreover, it was recommended that hatcheries
should be set up to supply seeds for aquaculture.
Regarding wetlands which include rivers, ponds, standing
water, mangrove forests and natural as well as artificial
water bodies, they recommended that illegal occupation
of wetlands should be eliminated.
It was recommended that wetlands should be protected
with the rights of local community and indigenous knowledge
should be incorporated into policy for wetland conservation.
Besides, natural wetland system should be linked with
the Indus Delta which is not getting enough freshwater.
Referring to Haleji and Keenjhar lakes, they regretted
that both these sites though important for biodiversity
were facing the problems of eutrophication. They called
for developing wetland management plans with coordination
of all stakeholders. Desert wetlands need special attention
and policy.
Among others, Shoukat Rahmoon of On-farm Water Management,
Dr Mumtaz Suhag from SIDA, Simi Kamal of the Pakistan
Water Partnership, Prof Mushtaqe Mirani, A.G. Pirzada,
Ali Raza Rizvi, Tahir Qureshi, Sana Raza, Najam Khursheed,
Nasir Ali Panhwar and Najia Siddiqui attended the workshop.
-APP
