18 November 2011:
Keenjhar, 18 November 2011: The Dutch ambassador, His Highness Gajus Scheltema, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, visited Keenjhar Lake in Thatta district, to inaugurate the walkway at Keenjhar Conservation and Information Centre established by Indus for All Programme-WWF Pakistan with the support of the Embassy. The constructed walkway is expected to promote ecotourism, as it offers view to scenic beauty of the Lake and easy access to the Centre.
The Centre facilitates sustainable management of the precious biodiversity through providing a platform for stakeholder dialogue and opportunities for ecotourism, supporting scientific research, and creating awareness, to mention a few. The Centre also offers latest information about the Lake, including threats of environmental degradation. It has conference room facility with seating capacity of 40 people, a display room, a watch tower and boat facility. The Centre was built under WWF – Pakistan’s Indus for All Programme, which works in three districts of Indus Ecoregion, namely Thatta, Sanghar and Nawabshah, to address ecological sustainability through livelihoods improvement.
The Ambassador toured the nearby villages and appreciated the team efforts of Indus for All Programme of WWF Pakistan in providing alternate livelihoods sources to local communities to minimize the impact on the natural environment. Mr. Scheltema observed the devastating impact of the flood and expressed the need to continue the Programme for an extended period through partnerships. He met with community based organizations and local community members, who have been provided fishing boats and floating matkas (pitcher used for fishing), and computer education through computer centre. He also visited the mangrove patch being conserved close to Keenjhar Lake, and the reed and weed management efforts of WWF – Pakistan in collaboration with local communities. He urged rural women to participate actively in community development and said that Netherlands was smaller than Pakistan in terms of population but it was growing rapidly in all spheres of life because of empowerment of women. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. Jan Willem Cools, First Secretary, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. WWF was represented by Rab Nawaz, Nasir Ali Panhwar, Umeed Khalid, Ali Dehlavi, Hafeezullah and Shahzadi Tunio. Earlier, he visited Haleji Lake, once paradise of birds, where Conservator Sindh Wildlife Department Saeed Baloch briefed about the significance of the wetland.
For further Information:
Nasir Ali Panhwar
Programme Coordinator
Programme Management Unit - Karachi
+92-213- 4544791-2
napanhwar@gmail.com
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