Centre, Sindh agree to launch blue economy, eco-tourism projects

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman have agreed to work on different projects, including depollution of Manchar Lake, development of eco-tourism in Keenjhar Lake and Miani Forest and fortifying fisheries cold chains and developing of sustainable Fisheries Management Framework.

The meeting was held at CM House on Saturday and was attended by Provincial Minister for Forest & Wildlife Taimur Talpur, Chairman Planning and Development Board Hassan Naqvi, Forest Secretary Badar Jamil Mendhro and Secretary Environment department Hassan Iqbal.

It was pointed out that the federal government has established "The National Disaster Risk Management Fund" (NDRMF) to finance the subprojects that will contribute to enhancing Pakistan's resilience to climatic and other natural hazards and strengthen the government's ability to respond to disasters triggered by natural hazards.

The Fund is also mandated to support climate-related interventions for climate change adaptation and mitigation. It [The Fund] has already committed an amount of $38.78 million nationally for implementing projects aligned with and complementing the implementation of the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) and National Flood Protection Plan (NEPP-IV).

Blue Economy: The CM said that the NDRMF has approved a project 'Towards Resilient Marine Ecosystem and Sustainable Blue Economy’ for Rs1.98 billion. The location of this one-year project is the coastal areas of District Thatta, Sujawal, Badin and Karachi.

The project consists of two main components: Resilient Marine Ecosystem and Utilization of salinized land.

Resilient Marine Ecosystem: Resilient Marine Ecosystem through Sustainable Management of Fisheries Resource ecosystem includes different components as follows:

Establish fisheries protected areas through community engagement, establishment of community policing through "Fisheries Stewardship Agreements (FSA)" in identified areas, development of Sustainable Fisheries Management Framework (SFMF) for coastal fisheries (all jetties), fortification of fisheries cold chain and establish support facilities on two landing centers, Installation of flake ice machine / chilling unit with cold storage at landing center on two landing centers, installation of RO plant for clean water supply along with solar system compatible with RO on two landing centers, expansion of existing floating pontoon on two jetties, establishment & Management of field offices, establishment of check posts, installation of chillers / flake ice machines on boats, provision of fish handling equipment to small boats and traders, including Iceboxes, Fish crates and Fish baskets, replacing harmful fishing gears with sustainable gear, sensitization of unsustainable and illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, Alter at least 50 fishing trawlers to sustainable fishing boats (gillnetters etc.), monitoring of fishing boats movement through Installation of Vessel Monitoring System on boats.

Utilisation of Salinised Land: Utilisation of Salinised Land Caused by sea intrusion for Aquaculture. This project has also different components including the establishment of a Model Demonstration Aquaculture farm; establishing model farms for Backyard culturing of fin fish and Shellfish; livelihoods and family nutrition Support for women/ families; backyard Aquaculture ponds on not more than a one-acre area with all required facilities for women and families of coastal areas; provision of expert / technical services for backyard aquaculture systems; support for improving fish drying practices for women entrepreneurs; establishing 24/7 extension services for target districts and training and exposure of 1000 farmers and fishermen.

Talking about eco-Tourism Recreational Activities at Manchar Lake, Murad Shah said that it was a Rs.910 million scheme.

Federal Minister Sherry Rehman urged the provincial government to prepare both the schemes and send them to the federal government. She added the federal government would fund them through NDRMF or from any other source.