News and Events

20 March, 2012

11th Meeting of Indus Eco-region Steering Committee held

Karachi, March 20: The 11th meeting of the Indus Eco-region Steering Committee (IESC) held on March 20, 2012 in the committee room of the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh. The Secretary Planning & Development Department, Mr. Mushtaq Chandina chaired the meeting on behalf of the Additional Chief Secretary, Planning & Development Department Government of Sindh.
Mr. Altaf H. Sheikh, Manager Policy & Partnership Fund, Indus for All Programme, updated on progress of the decisions taken in the 10th meeting of IESC held on August 24, 2011. He informed that after receiving suggestions from major universities and stakeholders, IESC Sub-committee in its meeting held on 13 December 2011 has recommended the Sindh Ibex (Capra Aegagrus) as provincial mammal and the Black Partridge (Francolinus) as provincial bird. Now, the Secretary Forests and Wildlife Department would seek the approval from competent authority and notify.
Mr. Rab Nawaz, Team Leader/Director Indus for All Programme, WWF gave background of the first phase of Indus for All Programme being implemented in four sites including Keti Bunder, Keenjhar, Chotiari and Pai in partnership with key stakeholders. He highlighted principles of eco region based conservation, context of Indus for All Programme, design stages of the programme, and implementation mechanism. He also briefed about the salient features of second phase of Indus for All Programme and shared that WWF-P is trying to approach different donors like World Bank and UNDP for its funding. He also discussed the possibilities of joint venture with Sindh Government.
The Programme Coordinator Mr. Nasir Ali Panhwar while briefing on the progress said that implementation of natural resource management plan and livelihood development plan is going on in four sites including Keti Bunder, Keenjhar Lake, Chotiari Wetlands Complex and Pai forest. He said that Hog Deer sanctuary and observatory hut at Pai Forest have been established and the ToPs are to be signed between the programme and Sindh Wildlife Department for the management of the facility beyond programme life. He informed that in Keenjhar Lake reed and weed management activity has been conducted to clean the exotic floras from the lake and community based fish nursery has also been established in which 5000 fish seed have been released. In Keti Bunder, the plantation of Mangroves at 1500 hectares was completed. He highlighted different programme activities including the institutional support to CBOs, awareness raising activities and partnership fund activities.
Project Manager Climate Change Adaptation, WWF Pakistan Mr. Ali Dehlavi, briefed the committee about recently launched project titled Building Capacity on Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Areas of Pakistan. He informed that five year project is supported by Eurpean Union and is implemented in Keti Bunder, Kharo Chan and Jiwanil. He shared the progress of project from July 2011 to February 2012.
Secretary Environment & Alternate Energy Department Mr. Mir Hussain Ali, Special Secretary Local Government Mr. M. Suleman Chandio, Senior Chief Water and Drainage Planning and Development Department Mr. Fazal Ahmed Nizamani, Director Agriculture Department Mr. Muhammad Azam Channa, Director Marines Fisheries Department Mr. Khawer Parvez, Advisor Irrigation Department Mr. Salman Memon, Assistant Director Sindh Coastal Development Authority Mr. Shahryar Kazi, Representative of NRSP Mr. Shahid Panhwar, Manager Conservation WWF-P Mr. Subhash Dawani, Manager Policy and Partnership Fund Altaf H. Sheikh, and others attended the meeting.

For further Information:

Nasir Ali Panhwar
Programme Coordinator
Programme Management Unit - Karachi
+92-213- 4544791-2
napanhwar@gmail.com