Sindh SoED.pdf - IUCN - Pakistan

is to discharge near the Gharo Creek which isalready stressed due to Karachi's heavyindustrial and port activities. The dilemmas ofthe Karachi coast are different from that of thedelta. This coast contains two major ports, theKarachi Port and the Mohammad Bin QasimPort. Both these ports are responsible for oilpollution of the coastal region. In addition,Karachi's industrial areas (SITE, Landhi-Korangi, Pakistan Steel Mills) dischargeeffluents that carry heavy metal, organic matterand toxic chemicals, into the sea. There is alsothermal pollution from the Karachi NuclearPower Plant and other heavy industries that usesea water for cooling and discharge it back athigh temperatures after use. Solid waste is alsodumped into the sea and untreated sewage(only 20 percent of Karachi's sewage is treated)finds its way to the sea through the naturaldrainage system. Due to these reasons the floraand fauna of the Karachi coast have beenadversely affected and their recreationalpotential and aesthetic quality has beenundermined. A master plan for Karachi as awhole and for the coast in particular is required,along with the implementation of theEnvironmental Protection Act, to improveconditions. This requires close coordinationbetween the numerous federal, provincial andlocal agencies that operate in the city.Sindh is also experiencing a depletion of itsfloral resources at an increasingly high ratebecause of a rise in both human and animalpopulation which results in over-exploitation.The absence of affordable energy options is amajor factor along with the decreasingfreshwater to the Indus Delta. As mentioned inthe paragraphs above, the riverine areas,swamps, deserts and the Indus Delta whereflora is located are all under stress. Althoughproper legislations exist, like the Forest Act,NEQS and the Wildlife Protection Act, theirimplementation and enforcement is weak,hampered by political interests and feudalinfluences. The administrative set-up is run onan ad hoc basis, with limited budgets and fewtrained persons.Sindh's Wildlife is threatened by similaradversities faced by flora resources in theprovince. A number of important NGOs thatwork in close collaboration with governmentagencies and the corporate sector haveinitiated pilot projects for the conservation ofwetlands, flora and wildlife.Sindh is a major producer of oil and gas. Fiftysixpercent of Pakistan's daily production of oiland 37 percent of gas is produced in Sindh.Limestone is found all over the province and ismined extensively for cement production. Thereare also large deposits of coal and lignite inupper Rannikot, Meting Jhimpir, Lakhra andThar. The Thar deposits have yet to be minedand are estimated to be the largest in Pakistan.Foreign investment in the mining sector isincreasing and between 1999-2000 and 2001-2002, it increased from $79.7 million to $121.7million dollars.Mining in Sindh has caused deforestation anddisplacement of the local poverty strickencommunities. It has also caused large scaleenvironmental degradation. Much of this isbecause the private companies involved inmining have not been concerned about itssocial and environmental repercussions. Ruralcommunities which are affected by miningactivities are poor and disorganised, and do nothave the support of concerned civil societyorganisations. Thardeep, a Thar NGO, hasrecently prepared a report on the environmentalrepercussions of mining in Thar and it is hopedthat the concerns and recommendations of thisreport will be considered by the authorities andthat in the future similar reports will be made forother mining projects as well. Such initiativesare important since both multinationalcompanies and domestic private prospectorsare increasingly showing interest in the miningsector.There are other daunting threats for the localsas well. Mining processes in Pakistan areobsolete, slow and outdated. Abandoned minespose problems and a number of people havedied due to their collapse. Lack of safety forworkers due to non-implementation of minesafety laws also results in regular deaths. Inaddition, pollution from mines causes changesin the chemistry of groundwater which results inan increase in water-borne diseases.Urbanisation in Sindh is a major environmentalissue as 48.9 percent of the province resides inurban areas. Karachi alone contains 63percent of Sindh's urban population. A largeSindh State ofEnvironment &Developmentxxi