Indus for All Programme Indus for All Programme
Indus for All Programme Indus for All Programme
Indus for All Programme Indus for All Programme
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The <strong>for</strong>mal Launch ceremony of the <strong>Indus</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong><br />
was held on Wednesday, August 29, 2007, at a local hotel<br />
in Karachi. The Chief Secretary Sindh, Mr. Ejaz Ahmad<br />
Qureshi, <strong>for</strong>mally launched the <strong>Programme</strong>. The ceremony<br />
also marked the start of a long-term ecoregion programme<br />
<strong>for</strong> the conservation of the <strong>Indus</strong> ecoregion. The <strong>Programme</strong><br />
is the first five-year implementation phase of a 50-year<br />
vision of the <strong>Indus</strong> Ecoregion <strong>Programme</strong> that aims to<br />
conserve the biodiversity in the ecoregion and improve the<br />
livelihoods of the local communities.<br />
Funded by the Royal Netherlands Embassy (RNE) in<br />
Pakistan, the <strong>Indus</strong> For <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong> has been developed<br />
in collaboration with the Government of Sindh and other<br />
stakeholders. The <strong>Indus</strong> Ecoregion lies in the southern part<br />
of Pakistan in Sindh and partially or fully covers several<br />
districts including Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu,<br />
Nawabshah, Sanghar and Umer Kot.<br />
The ecoregion harbours a wide array of biological diversity<br />
associated with diverse ecosystems including coastal areas,<br />
riverine <strong>for</strong>ests, the main river course, fresh water and<br />
brackish wetlands and deserts in the periphery.<br />
With a view to include representative ecosystems, four<br />
priority areas have initially been identified and selected <strong>for</strong><br />
the <strong>Programme</strong> interventions. Those include Keti Bunder<br />
and Keenjhar Lake in district Thatta, Pai Forest in<br />
Nawabshah and Chotiari Wetlands Complex in district<br />
Sanghar. The Keti Bunder area is a coastal and mangrove<br />
ecosystem and is a Wildlife Sanctuary. The Keenjhar Lake<br />
is a freshwater wetlands ecosystem and has been<br />
designated as a Ramsar site (a wetland of international<br />
importance) and a wildlife sanctuary. Chotiari Wetlands<br />
Complex is a unique blend of terrestrial and aquatic<br />
ecosystems while Pai Forest was once a riverine <strong>for</strong>est<br />
and now it has been turned into an irrigated plantation.<br />
The <strong>for</strong>est is also designated as a Game Reserve.<br />
Launching Ceremony of<br />
<strong>Indus</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong><br />
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary Sindh Mr.<br />
Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi said that the environment and<br />
conservation of natural resources is very important but<br />
irioinically very little attention had been given to those<br />
sectors in the past. He further emphasized that there is a<br />
dire need <strong>for</strong> pragmatic actions to address poverty and<br />
livelihoods issues. He pointed out that these issues are of<br />
serious concern and can become a threat to the very fabric<br />
of the society, if left unattended. Besides that, he also<br />
expressed gratitude to the Royal Netherlands Embassy in<br />
Pakistan <strong>for</strong> providing a generous financial support <strong>for</strong><br />
implementation of the <strong>Indus</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong>. He also<br />
assured his full support <strong>for</strong> the <strong>Programme</strong>. He further<br />
ensured that all the mega development projects in the<br />
province will be designed and implemented taking full care<br />
of environmental aspects.<br />
Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, the Chief Secretary Sindh<br />
Earlier, Mr. Ali Hassan Habib, the Director General of WWF-<br />
Pakistan, welcomed the participants. Moreover, he said<br />
that during his visit to Keti Bunder with other stakeholders,<br />
he saw that small interventions can bring about change in<br />
Mr. Ali Hassan Habib, Director General, WWF-Pakistan<br />
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such remote areas. In this connection, he mentioned the<br />
initiatives taken under the <strong>Programme</strong> such as setting up<br />
windmill energy units and establishing a small hut to be<br />
used as a school <strong>for</strong> a small village of 20 households in a<br />
remote creek. He further elaborated that the main challenge<br />
is to maintain that change and to ensure that the windmills<br />
are providing energy and the schools are functioning well.<br />
He further revealed that there were some shocking<br />
realisations <strong>for</strong> him as during the visit he came to know<br />
that 60 years ago the Keti Bunder Town Council provided<br />
a loan to Karachi Council, because they were more<br />
prosperous then. He further elucidated that it gets oneself<br />
to think that the difference between the economic prosperity<br />
of our urban and rural areas is increasing. It needs to be<br />
balanced and we should look whether we are sharing the<br />
benefits of economic progress, he added. Agencies show<br />
that while Pakistan’s economy is improving, it is not filtering<br />
down to the needy ones.<br />
Mr. Fred Smiet, First Secretary, the Royal Netherlands Embassy<br />
Mr. Fred Smiet, the First Secretary of the Royal Netherlands<br />
Embassy in Pakistan, spoke about the different initiatives<br />
of the RNE in Pakistan. He said the main objective <strong>for</strong><br />
funding the <strong>Programme</strong> was to address the nexus between<br />
poverty and environment. He further elaborated that the<br />
preservation of the biodiversity is important but <strong>for</strong> RNE<br />
the most important aspect was to support the poor whose<br />
livelihoods are threatened by a number of factors, such as<br />
salinity, sea intrusion, and decline in fisheries. He hoped<br />
that the experience of Pakistan in this <strong>Programme</strong> could<br />
become an example <strong>for</strong> other countries and programmes<br />
of similar nature.<br />
Furthermore, Dr. Ghulam Akbar, the Director of the <strong>Indus</strong><br />
<strong>for</strong> <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong>, introduced the <strong>Programme</strong> and its<br />
Dr. Ghulam Akbar, Director <strong>Indus</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong><br />
objectives adding that the long-term <strong>Indus</strong> Ecoregion<br />
<strong>Programme</strong> was <strong>for</strong> the conservation and poverty-alleviation<br />
in the <strong>Indus</strong> Ecoregion. He also said that the <strong>Indus</strong> Ecoregion<br />
is amongst the 40 most significant ecoregions in the world.<br />
Out of the five ecoregions found in Pakistan, it is the only<br />
ecoregion that lies fully within the borders of the country,<br />
while the others are trans-boundary. He further in<strong>for</strong>med<br />
the audience that the ecoregion consists of a diversity of<br />
ecosystems ranging from coastal and freshwater wetlands<br />
to riverine <strong>for</strong>ests and deserts which provide habitat to<br />
some important species of fauna and flora.<br />
Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khero, Additional Chief Secretary<br />
(Development), Planning & Development Department,<br />
Government of Sindh also spoke on the occasion. Besides<br />
highlighting the linkages and opportunities between the<br />
<strong>Indus</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong> and Sindh Vision 2030, he also<br />
spoke about the decline in the natural resources of the<br />
ecoregion. Speaking about alternative sources of energy,<br />
he appreciated the recent initiative of WWF-Pakistan to set<br />
up windmill energy units in the remote areas of Keti Bunder.<br />
He in<strong>for</strong>med the audience that the Government of Sindh<br />
has provided 18,000 acres of land to the Alternative Energy<br />
Department, Government of Pakistan <strong>for</strong> wind power plants.<br />
Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khero, Additional Chief Secretary (Dev.),<br />
P & D Department, Government of Sindh<br />
Prior to the launching ceremony, a team of around 30<br />
members from WWF-Pakistan, Government of Sindh, and<br />
media visited Keti Bunder, one of the priority areas of the<br />
<strong>Programme</strong>. The participants of the exposure visit interacted<br />
with the local people and assessed the ground situation.<br />
The team was also taken to the sites where the <strong>Programme</strong><br />
has installed two windmills in villages of Keti Bunder Taluka<br />
Mr. Ali Hassan Habib, Director General, WWF-Pakistan<br />
addressing community people at Keti Bunder<br />
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as part of its alternative livelihood initiatives. One of the<br />
windmills was installed in a remote creek area. During the<br />
visit the windmills were <strong>for</strong>mally inaugurated by <strong>All</strong>ah Bux<br />
Kalhoro, Director General, Coastal Development Authority,<br />
Sindh.<br />
The Chief Guest taking keen interest in the art exhibition<br />
with Dr. Ghulam Akbar and Dr. Ahsan Qureshi.<br />
The inauguration ceremony was amalgamated with several<br />
other activities including launching of <strong>Indus</strong> Ecoregion<br />
<strong>Programme</strong>’s Website: www.<strong>for</strong>everindus.org, <strong>Programme</strong><br />
Sites’ In<strong>for</strong>mation Corners and an Art Exhibition. The art<br />
exhibition put on show paintings by the renowned wildlife<br />
artist, Dr. Ehsan Qureshi. In order to promote communitymade<br />
products, several stalls of the local handicrafts were<br />
also set up at the venue.<br />
One of the stalls set up on the occasion<br />
Over two hundred and fifty participants representing diverse<br />
stakeholder groups and organizations, including prominent<br />
media agencies attended the event. The event was an<br />
effective means of launching some vital components of<br />
the <strong>Programme</strong>. It is hoped that the launch ceremony of<br />
the <strong>Indus</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong> will foster sound synergies<br />
between all the key stakeholders of the <strong>Programme</strong>.<br />
In order to promote <strong>Indus</strong> ecoregion and enhance<br />
understanding about the <strong>Indus</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong>, a range<br />
of awareness and resource material was displayed and<br />
distributed among the participants on the occasion.<br />
WWF - Pakistan’s Staff members during the Launch Ceremony.<br />
<strong>Indus</strong> For <strong>All</strong> <strong>Programme</strong><br />
WWF - Pakistan<br />
<strong>Programme</strong> Management Unit<br />
606-607 Fortune Centre, Block-6 P.E.C.H.S.,<br />
Main Shahra-e-Faisal, Karachi.<br />
Tel: 021-4544791-2 Fax: 021-4544790<br />
Website: www.<strong>for</strong>everindus.org<br />
The <strong>Programme</strong> is funded by the<br />
Royal Netherlands Embassy in Pakistan<br />
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