Sindh

Strategy for Sustainable Development

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Contents Preface iv

Acknowledgements v

Acronyms and Abbrevitions vii

Local Terms xi

Executive Summary xiii

PART I : Introduction 02

PART II : Breif Description of Sindh 10

PART III : Building Blocks of the SSSD 14

Chapter 1 : Introduction 16

Chapter 2 : Agriculture 24

Chapter 3 : Water 38

Chapter 4 : Coastal and Marine Ecosystems 50

Chapter 5 : Forests 58

Chapter 6 : Wetlands 66

Chapter 7 : Rangelands 72

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Chapter 8 : Biodiversity 78

Chapter 9 : Fisheries 86

Chapter 10 : Livestock 96

Chapter 11 : Industrial Development 102

Chapter 12 : Energy 110

Chapter 13 : Minerals and Mining 116

Chapter 14 : The Urban Environment 120

Chapter 15 : Environmental Health 128

Chapter 16 : Civil Society 134

Chapter 17 : Population and Health 140

Chapter 18 : Poverty 144

Chapter 19 : Gender 150

Chapter 20 : Education 156

Chapter 21 : Communication and ICT 166

Chapter 22 : Cultural Heritage and Tourism 172

PART IV : Implementation Mechanisms 180

Chapter 23 : Implementation Framework 182

Chapter 24 : Monitoring and Evaluation 194

Chapter 25 : Financial Resource Mobilisation 198

Appendices

Appendix 1 : Notification on Advisory Committee 204

Appendix 2 : List of Participants at Sectoral Consultative Workshops 209

Appendix 3 : Sample Project Concept Clearance Proposals 222

Appendix 4 : Potential Tourism Sites and Catagorisation 234

Maps 244

Bibliography 254

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Preface

The Sindh Strategy for SustainableDevelopment (SSSD) proposes a ten yearsustainable development agenda for Sindh. Itspurpose is to highlight the ecological,economic and social issues of the provinceand to provide recommendations and strategicactions to address them. The strategypromotes the sustainable use of naturalresources to achieve the objectives of povertyalleviation and social development through theparticipation of the people of Sindh.

It is now widely acknowledged that economicuplift can only be achieved through adoptingparticipatory processes that link theenvironment, development, and humanelements of a particular area. The SSSD hasbeen developed in response to the increasingdepletion of natural resources and rise inpoverty in the province. It is intended to serveas a framework that integrates the issues ofboth constraints and provides solutions

without compromising associated objectives.It advocates good governance as its maintheme and recommends institutional capacitybuilding and using the participatory processduring decision-making. Implementing theseconcepts in an integrated and holistic mannerwill ensure ownership, efficiency, and thesustainability of future projects.

This publication is intended to be a livingdocument, which should evolve with thechanging scenario. The strategy should bereviewed and revised every three years,incorporating lessons learned duringimplementation. This will help to refine andredirect the implementation process asneeded.

It is hoped that the SSSD will not only providea framework for a prosperous Sindh, but willultimately result in the diffusion of thisprosperity to the whole of Pakistan.

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Acknowledgements

The SSSD has been developed throughmultistakeholder participation andencompasses the expertise of manyindividuals and groups. We acknowledge their support and extend our grateful thanks to all of them. (See Appendix 2— List of Participants: Consultative Workshops).

The process was guided by an AdvisoryCommittee, chaired by Mr Ghulam SarwarKhero, Additional Chief Secretary, P&DD, GoS(Appendix 1 — Notification on AdvisoryCommittee).

The following resource persons providedsupport, guidance, and expertise:

● Mr Abdul Ghaffar Pirzada

● Mr Arif Hasan

● Dr Baz Mohammad Junejo

● Dr Iqbal Chaudhary

● Mr Javed Jabbar

● (Late) Mr Kazi Siraj

● Ms Kausar Saeed Khan

● Mr Mahmood .N. Shah

● Ms Meher Markar Noshirwani

● Dr Mubina Agboatwala

● Ms Mehtab Akbar Rashdi

● Mr Mohamad Hashim Leghari

● Dr M. Suleman Shaikh

● Mr Qazi Asad Abid

● Ms Rehana Ghulam Ali

● Mr Muhammad Saleem Jalbani

● Mr Shamsul Haq Memon

● Mr Zulfiqar Shah

IUCN Pakistan’s Sindh Programme providedthe overall technical expertise andcoordination. The Sindh Programme teammembers who worked diligently during theprocess included

● Mr Ali Raza Rizvi

● Mr Nasir Ali Panhwar

● Mr Tahir Qureshi

● Ms Saima Baig

● Ms Sana Raza

● Ms Najia Siddiqui

● Ms. Charmaine Fernandes

The SSSD has resulted due to the team efforts of IUCN Pakistan, particularly Mr Abdul Latif Rao,

Mr Hasan Akhtar Rizvi, Mr Ahmad Saeed, Ms Safia Shafiq, Mr Najam Khurshid, Ms ZohraRehmat Ali, Mr Bhim Adhikari, Mr NadeemSamnakay, Ms Huma Ikramullah, Ms Tehseena Rafi, Ms Seeme Malik, Mr Hameed Hasan, and Mr Rafi ul Haq. TheSenior Management Group of IUCN Pakistanalso peer-reviewed the document.

Ms Tamreez Khan provided editorial andcontextual support.

The strategy would not have been developedand completed without the financial supportof the Norwegian Embassy to whom we areextremely grateful.

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ADB Asian Development Bank

ADP Annual Development Plan

AEDB Alternative EnergyDevelopment Board

AKRSP Aga Khan Rural SupportProgramme

ARIs Agricultural ResearchInstitutes

BAP Biodiversity Action Plan

BCS Balochistan ConservationStrategy

BOC Burmah Oil Company

BoS Bureau of Statistics

CAI-Asia Clear Air Initiative for AsianCities

CBD Convention on BiologicalDiversity

CBO Community BasedOrganization

CCBs Citizen Community Boards

CCI Chamber of Commerce andIndustries

CEDAW Convention on the Eliminationof All Forms of DiscriminationAgainst Women

CEMB Centre of Excellence in MarineBiology

Acronyms and Abbreviations

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CETP Combined Effluent TreatmentPlants

CDA Coastal DevelopmentAuthority

CIDA Canadian InternationalDevelopment Agency

CNG Compressed Natural Gas

CPP Cleaner Production Program

CSOs Civil Service Organizations

CSR Corporate SocialResponsibility

DCC District CoordinationCommittee

DCO District Coordination Officer

DMIS District ManagementInformation System

DOAM Department of Archaeologyand Museums

DP Digestible Protein

EDO Executive District Officer

EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone

EIA Environmental ImpactAssessment

EPA Environment ProtectionAgency

EPZA Export Processing ZoneAuthority

ESD Education for SustainableDevelopment

EU European Union

FAO Food and AgricultureOrganization of the UnitedNations

FATA Federally Administered TribalAreas

FDI Foreign Direct Investment

FPCCI Federation of PakistanChamber of Commerce &Industry

FPSC Federal Public ServiceCommission

FPSP Flood Protection SectorProject

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GEF Global Environment Facility

GIS Geographic InformationSystem

GMOs Genetically ModifiedOrganisms

GNP Gross National Product

GoP Government of Pakistan

GoS Government of Sindh

GPA Global Plan of Action

GRAP Gender Reform Action Plan

ha Hectare

HDI Human Development Index

HESCO Hyderabad Electric SupplyCorporation

ICT Information CommunicationTechnology

ICZM Integrated Coastal ZoneManagement

IDRC International DevelopmentResearch Centre

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IED Institute for EducationalDevelopment

IEE Initial EnvironmentExamination

IIED International Institute forEnvironment andDevelopment

IMO International MaritimeOrganization

IPPs Independent Power Producers

IRC Indus Resource Centre

ISWM Integrated Solid WasteManagement

IUCN The World Conservation Union

KANUPP Karachi Nuclear Power Plant

KESC Karachi Electric SupplyCorporation

KFH Karachi Fish Harbour

KFHA Karachi Fisheries HarbourAuthority

KIA Korangi Industrial Area

KoFHA Korangi Fisheries HarbourAuthority

KPA Marine Protected Areas

KPAC Khirthar Protected AreaComplex

KPT Karachi Port Trust

LBOD Left Bank Outfall Drain

LGO Local Government Ordinance

LITE Landhi Industrial TradingEstate

MAF Million acre feet

MDGs Millennium DevelopmentGoals

MFD Marine Fisheries Department

MGD Million gallons daily

Mha Million hectares

ML Million litres

MSA Maritime Security Agency

MT Metric tonne

NACS Northern Areas ConservationStrategy

NASSD Northern Areas Strategy forSustainable Development

NCS National ConservationStrategy

NDP National Drainage Programme

NEAP National Environmental ActionPlan

NEQS National Environmental QualityStandards

NFC National Finance Commission

NIO National Institute ofOceanography

NOC No-Objection Certificate

NWFP North West Frontier Province

OPP Orangi Pilot Project

P&DD Planning and DevelopmentDepartment

PARC Pakistan Agricultural ResearchCouncil

PCP Pakistan Centre forPhilanthropy

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PCSIR Pakistan Council of Scientificand Industrial Research

PDWP Provincial DevelopmentWorking Party

PEMRA Pakistan Electronic MediaRegulatory Authority

PEPA Pakistan EnvironmentalProtection Act

PFC Provincial FinanceCommission

PITE Provincial Institute for TeacherEducation

PMD Pakistan MeteorologicalDepartment

PMDC Pakistan Mineral DevelopmentCorporation

PQA Port Qasim Authority

PRSP Poverty Reduction StrategyPaper

PSDF Public Sector DevelopmentFunds

PSDP Public Sector DevelopmentProgramme

PTA Parent–Teacher Association

RAMSAR International Agreement onEndangered Habitats

R&D Research and Development

RBOD Right Bank Outfall Drain

RCC Radiant Control Coating

RE Renewable Energy

RNE Royal Netherlands Embassy

RWSS Rural Water Supply andSanitation

SCDA Sindh Coastal DevelopmentAuthority

SDC Swiss DevelopmentCooperation

SEA Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment

SEMIS Sindh Education ManagementInformation System

SFD Sindh Forest Department

SIDA Sindh Irrigation and DrainageAuthority

SITE Sindh Industrial Trading Estate

SoED State of Environment andDevelopment

SMC School ManagementCommittee

SMEs Small and Medium Enterprises

SPCS Sarhad ProvincialConservation Strategy

SRSP Sindh Rural SupportProgramme

SSIC Sindh Small IndustriesCorporation

SSSD Sindh Strategy for SustainableDevelopment

SUPARCO Space and UpperAtmospheric ResearchOrganization

SWD Sindh Wildlife Department

SZABIST Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali BhuttoInstitute of Science andTechnology

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TDN Total Digestible Nutrients

TDS Total Dissolved Solids

TED Turtle Excluder Device

ToR Terms of Reference

UNCED United Nations Conference onEnvironment andDevelopment

UNCLOS United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea

UNDP United Nations DevelopmentProgramme

UNEP United Nations EnvironmentProgramme

UNFPA United Nations PopulationFund

UNICEF United Nations Children Fund

USAID United States Agency forInternational Development

WAPDA Water and PowerDevelopment Authority

WB World Bank

WEHAB Water-Energy-Health-Agriculture-Biodiversity

WRI World Resources Institute

WSSD World Summit on SustainableDevelopment

WTO World Trade Organization

WUA Water User Association

WWF World Wildlife Fund

ZSD Zoological Survey Department

abadgars farmers

awassi nomadic sheep breed

babul Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild exDal.

barani rain-fed land

begar forced labour

bhoosa straw

chardiwari literally, the four walls of ahouse

chowdikar attendant

chowki check post

deh smallest unit of revenuemanagement (land)

dhand lake

dhora watercourse

Eid-ul-Azha Muslim festival

ghee purified butter

goth village

gowcher common land allocated forgrazing

hakim physician

haris peasants

Local Terms

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hurries private woodlots

kachhi sheep breed

kankrej cattle breed

Karo Kari honour killing

katchi abadis squatter settlements

kharif summer crop/season

kikar Acacia nilotica

koaria well diggers

kooka sheep breed

kutcha unpaved road

maddrassahs religious schools

nain runoff torrents

nalas natural drains

nazim mayor

neem Azadricta indica

panchayat age-old system ofmanagement by local elders

pucca sealed road

rabi winter crop/season

sardar a chief; a leader

shisham Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.

talhi see shisham

taluka subdistrict

tarai water pond

taries natural depressions whererainwater gathers

tehsil subdistrict

thari cattle breed

ulema community-based scholars

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Sustainable development, which emphasizesthe integration between environmental,economic, and social dimensions, is now atop priority at global and national levels. It hasbeen generated by the environmental crisis,which has resulted in the degradation ofnatural resources as well as diminished qualityof life. There is also a growing worldwideconsensus on the need to improve equity andjustice significantly as a basic condition for aviable future for humankind. The first step toaddress these issues was the WorldConservation Strategy, which was developedin 1980. Subsequently at the Rio Summit of1992 it was agreed that environmentalconservation, equity, and gender equalityneed to be aligned to promote sustainabledevelopment.

After the development of the WorldConservation Strategy, each country wasexpected to develop its own NationalConservation Strategy (NCS). Pakistan wasamong the first few countries to start this

process. One of the main recommendations ofthe NCS was for each province to develop aProvincial Conservation Strategy. This wasdone by NWFP and Balochistan, followed bythe Northern Areas.

While Sindh is rich in natural resources, it isalso subject to a host of environmental anddevelopment issues. There is a severe watershortage in the province, especially in the aridand desert areas. Land is also afflicted bydesertification, waterlogging, and salinity.Forests occupy only 2.5 percent of the totalland area and tree coverage has been rapidlydecreasing due to overgrazing and felling.Moreover, there has recently been extensiveintrusion of the sea into the Indus Delta, whichhas destroyed a large portion of agriculturalland and has impacted on the livelihoods ofthe local people adversely. Owing to thesefactors and other issues such as pooreconomic and social development, theprovince has a high incidence of poverty andrural√urban migration. Recurrent droughts

Executive Summary

further compound the problems. Therefore, itis necessary that a sustainable developmentand good governance initiative be undertakenin the province.

In light of the issues in Sindh, IUCN Pakistanprovided technical assistance to the Planningand Development Department (P&DD),Government of Sindh (GoS) to develop theSindh Strategy for Sustainable Development(SSSD). This document serves as a planningframework for sustainable development in theprovince.

GovernanceSindh is the commercial hub and the gatewayof Pakistan. In terms of human developmenthowever, Sindh has a very large rural√urbandivide and a dramatic social gap. It has thehighest per capita incomes, but its humandevelopment indicators in rural areas areamong the worst in Pakistan. Poverty ispervasive and rife, especially in rural Sindh.The province is characterized by poor socialservices, large gender disparity, landlessness,and high dependence on the public sector ƒthese conditions are juxtaposed by the largemanufacturing, finance, and private sectors inKarachi.

Some issues related to governance includefiscal mismanagement, ineffective publicservice delivery, and deteriorating law andorder. The government is taking steps toinstitute governance reforms; however moreneeds to be done to ensure effective policiesand planning, public participation, thedecentralization of decision-making, andinstituting legal reforms.

Agriculture Agriculture is the backbone of Sindh»seconomy. Even the industries that exist in thearea are agro-based and 54 percent of thecountry»s textile units, 45 percent of its sugarmills, and 20 percent of pulp and paper millsare located in the province; all depend on rawmaterials from the agriculture sector. The major field crops sown in Sindh arewheat, cotton, rice, and sugarcane, which

utilize 68 percent of the total cropped area.Sindh also produces horticulture crops ƒmangoes, bananas, dates, and chilliespredominate. Otherwise floriculture andaquaculture are other important activities andneed better promotion to diversify anddevelop alternative income-earningopportunities in rural areas.

Over recent years, however, crop yields in theprovince have been low for many reasonsincluding, inter alia, lack of research, lowavailability of quality crop seeds, waterscarcity, and land degradation (waterloggingand salinity) due to inappropriate farmingpractices. Agricultural productivity is affectedby the inadequate supply of water as well asits timely release. The issue of watergovernance is thus a pressing concern for thestakeholders in this sector.

The effects of the imposition of traderegulations contained in the World TradeOrganization (WTO) agreements in the localagricultural sector are a concern. The qualitystandards advocated by the agreement andthe effect that they have on agricultural priceshave a profound impact on local farmers.Policy-makers in the province and the countrymust lobby for protection of the localagricultural sector, which is vital for foodsecurity, in the face of international pressure.

The SSSD incorporates many proposals toovercome these issues. Government policiesand initiatives should focus on sustainabledevelopment in agriculture with a focus on soilmanagement as well as efficient watermanagement. Furthermore, provisions foradequate agricultural extension must be madeto implement these policies at the grassrootslevel. Some initiatives have been undertakenby the government, but much remains to bedone. The recent revival of the Sindh SeedCorporation, announced in the latest budget, isa positive step to encourage public√privatepartnership. The list of recommendations forthe improvement of this sector iscomprehensive. It includes the increasedprovision of credit to farmers, efficient waterresource management, and a focus onresearch related to the sector. The implicationsof the WTO must also be studied. Substantialpolicy changes to accommodate the changes

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are required to maintain the globalcompetitiveness of the agricultural sector ofPakistan, to which Sindh makes a majorcontribution.

WaterWater is an increasingly contested issue inSindh. The province has been facing severewater shortages in recent years, which haveexacerbated other cross-sectoral issues.Scant rainfall and politicization of waterdistribution to the provinces, are leading toboth economic and social hardship.

Sindh is located in the arid zone andexperiences limited rainfall of 100 to 200 mmper year, and high rates of evaporation. Thelack of rainwater is not supplemented bygroundwater supplies, which have beenrecorded as less than 5 MAF. Therefore, Sindhrelies almost entirely on the water of the RiverIndus. Being situated at the tail-end of theIndus; the province receives even more limitedsupplies of water flowing in from the rest of thecountry. Sindh»s share in the Water Accord hasbeen set at 49 MAF but the availability of wateris normally less than this amount. Therefore,there have been serious disputes on waterdistribution.

The availability of river water and rainfallmeets the agricultural and industrialrequirements of the province. However, watersupply for domestic use is an issue asdrinking water is heavily dependent onfreshwater supplies. Successive droughts andcontamination (e.g. excessive use of chemicalfertilizers and industrial waste and effluents)are putting both the availability and quality ofdrinking water at risk.

The agricultural economy and agro-basedindustrial sector are suffering as a result ofthese water shortages. Farmers in Sindh arefacing acute economic shortfalls, especiallyin seasons of low rainfall. Without anadequate water supply, many farmers arebeing forced to turn to either alterativemodes of income or move to the cities insearch of work. Such economic pressure hasalso begun to put a strain on traditionalhousehold dynamics.

Issues in the distribution of Indus water, lackof groundwater, inefficient cropping patterns,use of outdated irrigation technology, and lackof investment for the re-modelling of theirrigation system are major obstacles inconserving and efficiently managing waterresources in Sindh.

As water issues in Sindh are so controversial,steps need to be taken to mitigate them. Acomprehensive water policy must be devised.The formulation of such a policy must beinitiated with a thorough situational analysis ineach province. There is a need to increase theparticipation of water users in the design,development, operation/maintenance, andfinancing of water supply systems. There is aneed for increased cooperation among differentinstitutions within other cross-cutting sectorsincluding agriculture, fisheries, wetlands,forests, and the urban environment to ensurecollaboration and joint solutions to problems.

Coastal and MarineEcosystems

Pakistan»s coastal zone is divided between theprovinces of Sindh and Balochistan. Sindh»scoastline hosts a productive marine fisheriessector and provides livelihoods for manycoastal inhabitants. There are inter-relationships between the long-term stabilityof the coastal and marine ecosystems andnumerous other sectors including thebiodiversity sector (comprising plant, wildlife,and fish species) as well as the industrial,forestry, and water sectors.

Land-based activities including industrial,urban, and agricultural pollution have resultedin the degradation of the marine ecosystem.The industrial estates of Karachi, namely SindhIndustrial Trading Estate (SITE), LandhiIndustrial Trading Estate (LITE), KorangiIndustrial Area (KIA), and West Wharf IndustrialArea, among others, discharge effluents mainlyinto the Lyari and Malir rivers, which drain intothe Arabian Sea. Oil pollution is also a majorthreat to coastal marine areas. TheGovernment of Pakistan (GoP) has recentlyprepared an Offshore Drilling Policy, andconcession rights have been issued in the

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Indus Delta which may increase oil pollutionconsiderably. Furthermore, inadequatesanitation facilities in coastal and urban areascause high levels of pollution through therelease of untreated solid waste into coastalwaters.

Coastal development activities also contributeto the degradation of the coastal environment.On the Karachi coast, land is being reclaimedin the harbour area for port management-related activities and in the urban cantonmentsfor housing, commercial, and recreationalprojects. These developments have altered thecoastal ecology of the area, which could haveserious repercussions in the future, especiallydue to the vulnerability of this area to tidalwaves, storms, cyclones, and monsoon rains.Another serious concern is the degradation ofmangrove forests, which are a vital ecologicalfeature for stabilizing the coastline of Sindh.

A lax regulatory environment and the weakimplementation of laws have plagued this sectorover time. There is currently no legislation toprotect coastal and marine resources fromdegradation through overexploitation ofresources, pollution, and the release ofinadequate water supply by upstream users. Theregulation and implementation of laws related tothe marine and coastal areas is essential.

Strong agencies with clear responsibilities forthe development and regulation of marine andcoastal areas are required. Institutionalstrengthening of relevant agencies is essential.These agencies must also be in close contactwith each other for complementary andmutually supportive action related to this sector.

The establishment of Marine Protected Areas(MPAs) must be considered. Intensive studiesare required to promote the rehabilitation ofkey areas affected by degradation. Theseareas could serve as breeding and nursinggrounds for fish and shrimp resources andcontribute to the productivity of the fishingindustry in the coastal areas.

ForestsForests cover approximately 2.5 percent ofthe total area of Sindh and 1.126 Mha (2.782

million acres) or eight percent of the area fallsunder the jurisdiction of the Sindh ForestDepartment. Forests are particularly importantin Sindh for soil stabilization in its vast aridzone and for the protection of neighbouringagricultural lands. Furthermore, forestssupport a rich diversity of flora and fauna, andfulfil the fuelwood and fodder needs of localcommunities.

The importance of the forests of Sindh hasbeen realized by the government and othersectors. The GoS is undertaking a number ofdevelopment projects in the Indus DeltaRegion with local and World Bank funding.Other initiatives in the pipeline include thepreparation and implementation of a CoastalZone Management Plan; a feasibility study forthe management of the riverine areas ofSindh; and the National Environmental ActionPlan»s (NEAP»s) initiative for the developmentof mangroves in the Indus Delta. The SindhForest Department (SFD) has executed aforestry project with the assistance of theAsian Development Bank (ADB) through whichover 21 000 ha of Reserve Forests have beenrehabilitated. ADB also funded the SFD todevelop management plans for all riverineforests and irrigated plantations. Furthermore,the GoS has approved an agroforestry leasepolicy in which 133 000 acres have beenscheduled for leasing.

The sustainability of the forest sector in Sindhis threatened by mismanagement, insufficientplanning, and inertia in the implementation ofconservation strategies. There is no uniformpolicy for forest resources. Due to the paucityof research in the forest sector, there is noreliable information on tree species andbiodiversity assessments have not beencarried out. It is crucial to have acomprehensive and sustainable national forestpolicy in order to support effective forestmanagement. The implementation of theForest Sector Master Plan developed by thegovernment must be considered as a firststep in this direction.

Large areas of forests are harvested withouteffective management plans to ensure thatharvested areas are adequately rehabilitated.Where management plans have beendeveloped, implementation has been

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insufficient and the capacity of forestry staff toadopt sustainable practices is limited. Thecapacity of institutions responsible for thissector needs to be enhanced to ensure thatviable conservation and sustainabledevelopment policies are pursued.

There is limited community involvement andlack of coordination, resulting in a gap betweenforest experts and local people. Social forestrymust be adopted as it has a great potential toorganize local communities to work in the fieldof conservation. Moreover, social forestry haspositive implications vis à vis poverty reductionand environmental management.

WetlandsNine out of 19 protected wetlands under theRAMSAR Convention are located in Sindh.These wetlands are sanctuaries forbiodiversity. Coastal and estuarine wetlandsserve as critical breeding, rearing, staging,and wintering grounds for various importantfish and shellfish species as well as migratoryand local birds. Sindh»s wetlands providesustenance to an ever-increasing humanpopulation and a substantial population ofwetland species, both plant and animal.

The coastal wetlands are affected adversely byinadequate freshwater supply, which istranslating into losses in the fisheries sector inSindh. Hunting, unplanned growth of humansettlements, illegal occupation, disturbance byrecreational activities, and reclamation by urbanand industrial development are some of theother problems that the wetlands face. Thereare no common property laws relating towetlands; this makes conservation andmanagement of these areas very difficult. Thereis no adequate legislation or enforcement oflaws relating to fishing rights for localcommunities ƒ this leads to exploitation ofresources and encroachment by other actors.

Wetlands have decreased in area due to theoverexploitation of their resources. There arefew alternative income-generating sources forlocal communities in these areas; as a resultthey depend on natural resources as their solemeans of livelihood. Only recently, afterecological and environmental surveys, has

some awareness regarding the importance ofwetlands been generated. The P&DD should allocate funds specificallyfor wetland management and conservation intheir Annual Development Plan (ADP) with anadditional focus on research and feasibilitystudies. The provincial government along withthe district governments need to work incoordination with each other. Furthermore,conservation strategies and policies need tobe implemented through organizationsworking for wildlife, wetland, and waterconservation. There is also a need forincreased coordination between governingagencies as well as NGOs working in the fieldof wetland management.

Research is necessary for wetlandmanagement and conservation activities. It isessential to map all current wetlands usingGIS. Accessibility of information and reliabletools would make the monitoring processmore accurate and useful. Awareness-raisingactivities among the community, policy-makers, and relevant stakeholders on theimportance of conserving the biodiversity ofwetlands can be based on this information.

There is a need for regulatory mechanisms,such as legislation, to ensure comprehensiveEnvironmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) forall development projects near wetland sitesand their potential affect on biodiversity.Action must be taken on recommendations ofthe Biodiversity Action Plan and NCS throughthe development of stricter enforcement andmonitoring mechanisms starting with theRAMSAR-protected sites in Sindh.

RangelandsThe arid zones of Sindh can be classified assubtropical deserts and they constitute morethan 60 percent of the province. Rangelandsare a critical component of these areas. Theyprovide grazing grounds for livestock andsupport a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Therangelands in Sindh are mostly state propertyand their integrated management is essential toensure these resources are used sustainably.

The majority of the population in arid areasand their rangelands live below the poverty

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line. The literacy rates are extremely low andemployment opportunities are limited.Monsoon rainfall, which is cyclic, irregular, anderratic in nature, is low. The low rainfall forcesthe local inhabitants to migrate with theirlivestock. Both desertification and waterscarcity plague these areas. In spite of theseecological constraints, livestock productionand dryland agriculture are vital to theeconomy here.

There have been no livestock improvementand development projects in either the publicor private sectors. Traditional natural breedingsystems are still used and farmers are unawareof innovations that they could adopt. Diseasesamong livestock are common. Furthermorethere is a dearth of appropriate policies at bothnational and provincial level regarding thedevelopment of livestock and feed resourcesduring periods of fodder scarcity.

The social and economic uplift of therangeland communities must be prioritized.Basic amenities such as fuel, water, sewers,and schools for the local population must beprovided. Moreover, creating an effective roadinfrastructure is critical for the arid areas ofSindh.

Exploring water-spreading techniques1 is alsoa possibility as they help to control soil erosionand movement of sediment, and conservewater for increased forage production.

BiodiversitySindh is rich in biodiversity owing to its diverserange of landscapes and ecosystems. Plantspecies are a source of food for the ruralpopulation and are also an important source ofraw material for the industrial sector. They arealso used in healthcare products, traditionalmedications, dyeing, as culinary spices, and innatural cosmetics and perfumes.

Sindh is located on the flyway of Central Asia,and therefore hosts a multitude of migratoryspecies of birds. Sindh»s wildlife includes thehoubara bustard, the Sindh urial, the Sindhibex, the Indus blind dolphin, the marsh

crocodile, the Indian cobra and python, andthe Oliver Ridley turtles. According to theBiodiversity Action Plan, Sindh has a total of54 protected areas, with 14 game reserves, 35wildlife sanctuaries, and one national park.The remaining four remain unclassified.

From its important array of medicinal plants, itsunique species of wildlife in its importantwetland sites, nine of which are protectedunder the RAMSAR Convention, the focus inSindh has always been on exploitingbiodiversity for short-term gains. The results ofthis short sightedness among policy-makersand communities alike are becoming painfullyclear as important species of wildlife andplants, forests, and wetlands are struggling fortheir survival in a situation where their valuemight only be realized after it is too late.

The predominant factors that have adverselyimpacted on Sindh»s previously richbiodiversity are the destruction of importantflora and fauna habitats by unplannedindustrialization, the decreasing supplies offreshwater from the Indus River, and the lackof effective policies to protect and enhancebiodiversity.

Industrial pollution and sewage dischargehave increased substantially in Sindh. Manycreeks and coastal waters suffer fromeutrophication due to high levels of fertilizerresidues and sewage discharge. Owing to itslack of drainage facilities, the irrigation systemhas further compounded degradation of soiland land conditions ƒ rendering them unfit tosupport traditional plant varieties.

Conservation of biodiversity, especially in thecase of flora, is currently a low priority, whichtranslates into a lack of management planningfor the effective implementation of policyrelated to this sector. The governmentdepartments responsible for conservation areunable to function effectively due tomismanagement of agencies, insufficientfunding, political inertia, and a dearth oftrained and committed staff. The SindhWildlife Department, for example, should beprovided with effective training of staff,adequate funds, and updated technical

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1 Human-induced irrigation systems and water management practices.

equipment to ensure effective datacompilation.

Furthermore, the Pakistan Biodiversity ActionPlan proposes specific actions that need to beadopted and integrated into sectoral plans andprogrammes. Policies to regulate the accessand use of genetic resources are alsomandatory. They must be integrated intoprovincial and district level development plans.

Innovative conservation programmes andprojects need to be undertaken by governmentdepartments with the active involvement oflocal communities. The precursor to thisshould be the capacity building of all sectorsand far reaching advocacy work for theprotection of biodiversity.

FisheriesFisheries make a significant contribution tothe national economy through exportearnings. In 2000, 84 693 MT, valued at Rs.7.9billion2 of fish and fish products wereexported out of a total estimated at 665 000MT. Approximately 48 percent of this amountwas produced in Sindh. Consequently, marineand inland fisheries are a major feature of theSindh economy. The total number of peopleengaged in the fisheries sector during 2000and 2001 was estimated at 360 000. Of thistotal, 135 000 people (37.5 percent) wereengaged in marine fisheries and 225 000people (62.5 percent) in inland fisheries.

Overfishing, degradation of aquaticecosystems, and unsustainable exploitation ofmarine and inland resources are some of themajor issues in this sector along with analarming rise in pollution levels in fishingwaters. The reduced flow of Indus waterdownstream of Kotri Barrage, silting, andpollution are leading to ecological changes,which are having an adverse impact onbivalves, particularly oysters.

Fishing settlements along the coastline havedeveloped in such a haphazard fashion thatthe scope of their activities is limited as thefacilities to support the sustainable growth of

this industry do not exist. Due to the lack offacilities related to loading, unloading,packaging, and storage of fish catches, localfisherfolk»s make-shift arrangements pollutethe surrounding environment. Mismanagementis the main cause of most of the problemsand constraints facing the fishing industry. Forexample, equipment procured during theexecution of development projects has notbeen properly utilized and more often than nothas been damaged or destroyed due tomisuse.

There is a need for greater support of thecurrent fishing industry with increased accessto credit, improvement and development oflanding facilities, and the establishment ofpostharvest facilities at appropriate sites. Theprivate sector should be encouraged to investin the development of fish harbourinfrastructure facilities.

The lack of research and developmentactivities in the field of fisheries makesinformed and effective policy-making difficult.Current and reliable statistics on fish stocksare necessary for the analysis of loss ofbiodiversity in coastal and inland waters aswell as environmental degradation in thesurrounding areas.

There is a lack of enforcement of currentlegislation related to the fisheries sector. Fishmarkets, which are crucial for theestablishment of a viable fish farming industry,are poorly developed. In this regard, thegovernment and local NGOs need to providethe related infrastructure to support fishmarkets, including roads linking fishingvillages to markets and important urbancentres, transport facilities, water supplies,credit facilities, and postharvest facilities forfishing communities.

LivestockMore than 75 percent of the rural populationpractices livestock farming. Both public andprivately-owned livestock farms can be foundin Sindh. Four farming systems predominate,namely: subsistence farming, market-oriented

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2 US$1.00 = 59.64 Pakistan rupees (August 2005).

farming, peri-urban agriculture, and urbanfarming. Although Sindh»s livestock populationis of high quality, improvements in theperformance of breeds and exploitation oftheir genetic potential have been minimal andthis has affected productivity.

The availability of feed resources is decliningrather than increasing owing to the constantpressure of increasing livestock populations,frequent droughts, and greater pressure oncultivable land for the production of crops forhuman consumption.

Improved extension services offered to thelivestock sector, which include access tomodern inputs, technology, and livestockhealth services, are required. There is anetwork of veterinary hospitals anddispensaries at district, tehsil, and unioncouncil levels, which provide diagnosticservices, treatment of sick animals, andpreventive vaccination. However, there is roomfor improvement in these services. Dairyvillages should be established on governmentlands for rearing of dairy buffaloes, withsufficient access to markets through linkedroads, as well as provision of adequateservices for production and maintenance inareas that have no dairy production facilities.The government must also support the privatesector and NGOs in this regard to set upprojects to improve existing and develop newextension services on a priority basis.

Basic and applied research needs to beconducted at all levels of the livestock andpoultry farming sector. More public funding forR&D from the operational budget is required.The application of technologicaladvancements is necessary and innovativetechnology, especially that imported fromabroad, must be studied. While newtechniques should be encouraged, thevariability between farm resources and animalpractices in Sindh compared to other areasmust be considered.

Industrial DevelopmentSindh»s process of industrialization began withthe creation of planned industrial estates andthe development of an engineering base. In an

effort to promote industrial growth, 24 largeand small industrial complexes wereestablished in different parts of the province.

Sindh»s industries encompass agricultural,horticultural, and livestock production andprocessing of products; textiles; tanning;pharmaceuticals; minerals; cement; salt;sugar; cotton; coal; china clay; oil and gasproduction as well as the steel andautomobile industries. The informal sector isled by small-scale manufacturing units basedon indigenous or indigenized technologiesthat produce consumer products; theseaccount for 50 percent of the industrialproduction in Sindh.

Industrial production in the province peaked inthe mid-1990s, but over the years, it has lostmomentum. Many factors account for thedeceleration of manufacturing activities.Primarily this is attributable to the failure of theindustrialization policy, which waspromulgated as infrastructural facilities inindustrial established complexes wereinsufficient, substandard, and could not caterto the demands of the industry. The entry ofsmuggled goods from other provinces, theproduction of low quality products by anincreasingly aggressive informal sector, andthe growth of the underground economy havefurther compounded the problems of theformal industrial sector.

The government needs to review the highcargo handling charges at Karachi port asthey increase the industrial cost of productionand discourage exports. The governmentmust support industrialization by removingsuch barriers and by providing incentives.There is also a need for greater enforceablelegislation to ensure industry compliance,particularly with environmental regulations.

Seventy percent of Pakistan»s industry islocated in Sindh. There has been a gradualshift of industries to Punjab whereindustrialists are provided with betterincentives and political stability. Hence peoplein Sindh are opting for trading, real estatebusinesses, and a capital market instead ofestablishing industries. Incentives must beprovided to the business community tosustain this sector.

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Energy

Forty-two percent of energy consumed inSindh is used in the domestic sector and 35percent is consumed by the industrial sector.Fifty-two percent of the energy requirementsis met by fuelwood, 17 percent is generatedby electricity, eight percent is served by gas,and six percent is fuelled by kerosene.

Eighty-four percent of exploration activities inthe oil and gas sector occur in Sindh. It has95 percent of the total coal depositsnationwide. Additionally innovative renewableenergy technologies have been experimentedwith (e.g. windmills for water pumping, windturbines along Karachi»s coast for generatingelectricity). However, none of the programmeshas made a substantial addition to energyresources, and the pressure on non-renewablesources has persisted.

The power sector is dominated by public utilityproviders, which suffer from overstaffing,declining technical skills, lack of properinfrastructure, financial and technicalinefficiencies, poor governance, lack ofcompetition, and inaccessible services forconsumers. There is also weak coordinationbetween government agencies and otherstakeholders. The two main energy providers inSindh ƒ HESCO and KESC ƒ are unprofitable,running on 32 percent and 37 percent lossesrespectively. Effective management of currentresources is essential. Secondary transmissionand grid systems should be upgraded to ensurefull capacity utilization and uninterrupted supplyof energy to tail-end users.

It is therefore necessary to increase thecurrent supply of energy in a cost-effectivemanner, particularly in the field of renewableenergy, which is at present an untappedresource. Private sector companies must beencouraged to enter the renewable energysector, for example in the field of CNGtechnology. The government is proposing tomake this technology tax free for five to tenyears as well as offering subsidies, fiscalincentives, and loans for its greater use.

Increased capacity building of organizationslike the Private Power Infrastructure Board is

required to provide greater support topublic√private partnerships in this field. Theinstitutional development of energy providerssuch as KESC and WAPDA, including trainingof staff and instilling a policy of conservationand transparency, should be attempted withthe help of both public and private sectororganizations.

Minerals and MiningThe mineral and mining sector, which ranksthird in Pakistan after the industrial andagricultural sectors, respectively, earns morethan 101 million rupees annually. Out ofPakistan»s daily production, more than 56percent and 37 percent of oil and gas outputsrespectively are derived from Sindh. Shell OilCompany, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, HuntOil Company, and the Oil and GasDevelopment Corporation have successfullydiscovered oil and gas in different parts of theprovince. Besides oil and gas, 26 mineralscontribute to the national economy.

Unfortunately, the mining and explorationprocesses, particularly those used in coalmining, are obsolete or slow. Environmentalconcerns and health hazards are low priorityareas. Underground mining of coal can lead tosoil subsidence (causing damage to homes,roads, and agricultural land). Coal miningproduces air pollutants, which include dust,carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, oxides ofnitrogen, hydrogen sulphide, and trace metals.

There is a lack of information regardingmining locations, issues, geographicdistribution, total land degraded by miningactivities, terrestrial mines under activeexploration, the total area of mining leases ƒwhich are active and dormant ƒ and thelocation of mining fields. The periodicmonitoring of mineral outputs, geographicdistribution, economic size of mining units,techniques, and the balance betweendemand and supply is necessary.

A separate cell for the exploration of mineralsin the Department of Mines and MineralDevelopment needs to be set up.Furthermore, environmental issues, includingdisturbance of land during mining, generation

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of waste, percolation, and transportation mustbe addressed on a priority basis. According toPEPA »97 rules and regulations, EIAs shouldbe mandatory for all mining projects. A MineDevelopment Plan must be drafted, whichshould address issues like soil management,overburden and spoil disposal, barriers toarrest noise pollution, air pollution,reclamation of back-filled areas, reclamationof nalas and fields, and improving the qualityof life in human settlements surroundingmines; practical mitigation measures need tobe suggested. Enhanced capacity is requiredfor the implementation of relevant legislationand the implementation of plans. A separateSindh Mining Training Board should beestablished to plan and implement humanresource development and utilizationprogrammes apropos coal mining technology.

Urban EnvironmentSindh has the highest urban population inPakistan ƒ 14.84 million ƒ which constitutes48.9 percent of the total population of theprovince. Physical conditions in urban Sindhdo not compare well with the Pakistanaverage, except for Karachi.

Most urban centres in Sindh areoverpopulated. There is an exodus of migrantsfrom the rural areas to cities that do not havethe infrastructural capacity to accommodatethem. Due to the lack of proper housingfacilities, those who come from rural areasoften settle in kachi abadis or squattersettlements around the city. These are illegalencroachments without any proper civicfacilities. Other major urban issues includesewage disposal, water scarcity andcontamination, air and noise pollution.

Municipal and industrial effluent in Sindh isdischarged into the nearest drainage canals,depressions, water channels, rivers, or the seaowing to inadequate disposal and treatmentfacilities. This contributes to another prevalentproblem in both cities and towns ƒ waterpollution. Poor water quality has led to recentoutbreaks of infectious diseases, some ofwhich have resulted in mortality. Potablegroundwater is available in only 28 percent ofthe urban land mass.

In terms of water quality and supply, there is aneed for immediate rehabilitation of thecurrent supply system to ensure that waterlosses are curtailed. Also, there is a need foran effective water quality monitoring system,particularly as polluted water has caused thedeaths of many residents in rural Sindh.

Air pollution problems are a high priorityissues throughout Pakistan and they are noless important in Sindh. Currently,coordination between the variousstakeholders (i.e. provincial government, citygovernments, private sector organizations,and NGOs) is weak. An increase in vehicularpopulation has led to congestion andincreases in air and noise pollution levels.

Proper urban planning for infrastructuredevelopment projects is required. Plans mustidentify and be based on the needs of urbanresidents. Such planning should includestrategies to minimize issues such as trafficand pollution hazards as well as ensuring thelong-term environmental feasibility of suchprojects. Environmental impact assessmentsof new projects need to be undertaken.

Environmental HealthAccording to UNICEF»s Multiple IndicatorsCluster Survey (1995) for Sindh, 81 percent(the highest amongst the four provinces) ofchildren below five years of age havedeveloped acute respiratory infections. Sincethis study was conducted a decade ago, thisnumber must have increased considerably bynow but statistics have not been documented.Severe water pollution has resulted in variousenteric diseases, primarily gastroenteritis,typhoid (especially in the summer), andhepatitis amongst the populace.

Excessive population growth has increasedenvironmental pressures on rural and urbanareas, degraded resources, and increasedpollution. High levels of air and water pollutionhave led to various respiratory and water-borne diseases. Approximately 70 percent ofthe populace do not have access to clean andsafe drinking water and around 80 percenthave no access to drainage and sanitationfacilities. Such deplorable living conditions

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result in increased health problems within therural and urban population. The effect ofpollution generated by industry has not beenconsidered either. Industrial heavy metals,along with other pollutants, are dischargedinto the environment through industrial waste,automotive exhaust, heavy-duty powergenerators, and through refuse burning. Lead,one of the most toxic of heavy metals, isreleased into the atmosphere through exhaustfumes from automobiles, lead-based paints,and battery-smelting factories.

There is a need to conduct studies on thedegree of pollution (such as air and waterquality), noise levels, the poverty√environmentnexus, population pressure, resource gaps,and law enforcement mechanisms andestablish a reliable database of statistics,especially in urban areas. Based on thisinformation, appropriate action must be taken.There is also a need for increased capacity,awareness, and regulation of the informalmedical sector on issues pertaining toenvironmental health.

A treatment system must be established toensure that effluent is treated before beingdischarged into freshwater sources.Alternatives need to be provided to substitutehigh emission fuels with low emission fuels instationary and non-stationary sources tocheck air pollution, accompanied by thesubstitution of unleaded fuel for leaded fuel.The preparation of a transport policy toaddress air and noise pollution and otherissues related to environmental health in urbancentres of Sindh must be given priority. Inaddition, the capacity of the EPA should beenhanced for effective monitoring of pollution,especially in the case of industries.

Civil SocietyPakistan has a burgeoning civil society, withNGOs playing a lead role in guidingdevelopment processes in various socio-economic sectors. There are significantdifferences in the mandates and activities ofNGOs operating in urban and rural Sindh.While rural NGOs are primarily involved inservice provision and developing models ofservice delivery through community

participation, the priorities of urban NGOs aredirected towards initiating policy changesthrough advocacy.

A major constraint in the country and Sindh isthe fact that NGOs are often viewed withsuspicion and hostility by traditional religiousinstitutions, charity organizations, and thegovernment. This mistrust exists within NGOsas well but is directed towards thegovernment, hence deterring an enablingenvironment for collaborative initiatives.Therefore, there is a lack of coordination indevelopment schemes.

Like other NGOs in Pakistan, a majorconstraint faced by their Sindh counterparts isfunding, which is dependent on donors,usually from outside Pakistan. Donor-drivenfunding is based on the priorities of the donorand often may not be based on the needs ofthe locals.

To escape from this dilemma, a Sindh NGOfund that streamlines funding from thegovernment and other sources fordevelopment and environmental activitiesmust be established. The GoS should ensuresocial investment from various sources withthe DCC (District Coordination Committee) sothat all funds collected are distributedaccordingly to development projects. Civilsociety partnerships with the public sector fordevelopment areas will be useful as they canensure greater participation and grassrootssupport for government programmes.

The civil society sector must make efforts toincrease its credibility with other sectors.Many organizational constraints such as thelack of effective monitoring mechanisms areevident. Frequently, NGOs work in isolationwhich limits the scope of their activities andthe multiplier effect. Effective communicationchannels must be developed for the publicand private sectors to ensure greatercoordination and support for relevantprogrammes.

Population and HealthAlmost half of Sindh»s population of 30 millionlives in urban areas. The urban population is

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growing at a faster pace (3.5 percent per year)than the rural population (2.2 percent per year)due to in-migration and insufficient economicopportunities and facilities in the rural areas.The rural√urban divide is particularlypronounced in Sindh where socio-economicdevelopment indicators are much higher inurban areas.

Recent demographics illustrate that because ofthe high level of fertility over the last fewdecades, the adolescent population is exertingenormous pressure on socio-economic facilitiesand employment opportunities. Therefore themain concerns should be provision ofschooling, healthcare centres, and vocationaltraining institutes to cater to the demand of thispopulation and to ensure that they can becomeproductive members of society.

There is a need for more common healthfacilities and birth control programmes, familycounselling services (with monitoring/evaluation), and rural health centres at thetaluka and district levels in Sindh.

PovertyPoverty has become a major issue in Sindh,where 50 percent of the population livesbelow the poverty line. Rural poverty in Sindhis higher than the national average ƒ thepoorest districts of Pakistan are located inSindh. The deprived half of the province»spopulation is plagued by unemployment,inadequate access to education, poorsanitation, insufficient health facilities, andunhygienic living conditions.

The poor are affected by the increaseddegradation of natural resources as they relyon natural resources for their livelihoods ƒwater, forests, and arable land.Concomitantly, waterlogging, salinity, and thepollution of waterbodies have a negativeimpact. Poverty is further exacerbated by theunequal distribution of private and publicassets. The problem of lack of access towater resources is particularly pronouncedamong lower income groups. Inadequatewater supplies limit income-earningopportunities and lead to poor health whenpolluted water is used.

A strategy for rural poverty alleviation isrequired from policy-makers. The identificationof the poor in various agroclimatic zones isessential in government strategy as this has astrong correlation with the incidence ofpoverty. Also the creation of jobs outside therural agriculture sector is imperative. Becauseof skewed land distribution, there is a need tofocus on income sources, independent oflandownership. The development of Small andMedium Enterprises (SMEs) and home-basedcottage industries, for example, could be aviable option.

It is also important to strengthen the localgovernance systems and develop policystructures to ensure that the poor haveaccess to resources, income, health, andeducation. At the policy level, there is a needfor increased emphasis on the development ofpro-poor macro-economic policies inconsultation with stakeholders to supportthese initiatives in all sectors. There should beincreased collaborative efforts in the publicand private sectors, particularly in ruralsettings, to ensure adequate credit invulnerable areas on a priority basis. Increasedaccess to credit will help to increase accessto land capital for the poor, which will helppoverty alleviation.

GenderGender has been infused holistically into allchapters of the SSSD. In Sindh, as in the restof the country, there is considerable diversityamongst women according to classstructure, rural/urban locality, ethnicbackground, educational level, and incomegroups ƒ this determines their social,economic, and political development. Womenin urban areas of Sindh are far better off thantheir rural counterparts with regard to accessto basic services like water, electricity,education, employment, and health facilities.In terms of government policy, women arestill restricted to their productive roles ascaregivers and not in terms of their valuablecontributions to household economies; thislimits investment in gender-based socialdevelopment. Women in Sindh lag behindmen because of social, cultural, andtraditional norms.

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There is a need to mainstream gender equalityperspectives across all public policies, laws,programmes, and projects by variousstakeholders in the field, most prominently thegovernment, to ensure that women»s interestsand needs are adequately represented inpublic policy formulation and relatedprogrammes.

The roles women can play in populationpolicy, environmental initiatives, and thepolitical process as well as in povertyalleviation projects have been underestimatedin the past. However, these societalperceptions are gradually beingreconstructed. Women can be mobilized asagents of change for issues like conservationof water and sustainable farming practices.Owing to their close ties to natural resourcemanagement, policy-makers need to involvewomen to further the goals for sustainabledevelopment.

EducationOver the past ten years literacy rates in theprovince for both men and women haveincreased dramatically. The figures forKarachi stand at 71.7 percent for men and71.4 percent for women. However, theprovincial average is 65.2 percent. Statisticaldata must not, however, be the onlybenchmark for education. There may be anincreased availability of infrastructuralfacilities, but the mode and quality ofinstruction is often neglected. For example,income group disparities mean that studentscan be enrolled in public, private, andmadrassah schools with disparities betweenlanguages of instruction. Even within Englishmedium schools, there are two types ofsystems ƒ matriculation with the local boardof education and the Cambridge examinationsystem.

Due to rising poverty levels there is a highdropout rate in the middle schools. Children,both boys and girls, are often engaged ineconomic activity. The education sector inSindh is hampered by the lack of organizationand planning. There are numerous publicsector facilities available such as technicaland vocational centres, primary school

buildings, teacher-training centres, andprogrammes. However they are not utilized totheir full potential and they are inadequatelyfunded. Instead, a parallel system ofeducation, fed by the private sector anddonor-led projects, has been functioning,creating income disparity and varying degreesof quality. The introduction of donor funding toeducation has begun to impact ongovernment funds, which seem to bedecreasing.

≈Ghost∆ schools have been identified by theauthorities throughout the province. This termrefers to institutions that only exist on paper.These ghost schools in many cases areaccompanied by ≈ghost∆ teachers whoreceive salaries from the public sector. Thisproblem is chronic in Sindh and there is a direneed for a policy or a mechanism to deal withthe situation.

The mediocre examination system in Sindhhas caused the standard of education to fall.The pass percentage keeps decreasing withthe use of outdated textbooks and teachingmethodologies at primary, secondary, andeven tertiary levels. Teacher-trainingmechanisms are not effectively planned or failto remain in a continuous learning loop for theteachers who undergo training. There is noeffective system for monitoring orimplementation after the training sessions.There is a dire need for effective training ofteachers and updating of curricula in alleducational institutions at primary, secondary,and tertiary levels.

Communications and ICT

For a long time, Karachi has been the hub ofmost print and electronic media production inPakistan. The major English and Urdupublications with the highest circulations, aswell as many multi-city newspapers, arebased in Karachi. Many major televisionchannel operators run from Karachi as well.

In recent years, there has been a significantincrease in television audiences as a result ofthe greater availability of television sets andthe abundance of new television channels viasatellite and cable. Pakistan Television, a

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state-controlled channel has dominated theairwaves since the emergence of television inPakistan. However, with the advent of newlocally-owned television channels with lessstringent censorship, this monopoly has beencurtailed. Satellite dishes and formal andinformal cable networks allow access to bothregional and local channels, which areaccessible even in the remote areas of theprovince.

The potential of radio as a medium forcommunication has been strengthened by theinflux of new radio stations on FMfrequencies. State-owned Radio Pakistanowns and operates four radio stations inKarachi, Hyderabad, Khairpur, and Larkana,which transmit programmes on AM, SW, andFM frequencies. There are also two private FMchannels operating in Karachi. This number isbound to increase. Fourteen licences wereissued by the Pakistan Electronic MediaRegulatory Authority (PEMRA) in 2004.

With the introduction of the broadbandservice, Internet quality has improvedsignificantly along with its accessibility all overthe province. Internet is now available in 138towns and cities in Sindh because of thegovernment»s efforts to make dial-upnetworking available through Point ofPresence telecommunications.

There is a rural√urban disparity when it comesto accessing information owing to low literacyrates, poor infrastructure facilities,geographical remoteness, and the high priceof publications in rural areas. People areunable to highlight their difficulties as theycannot pay for publications to run their storiesin rural areas. There is a ≈digital divide∆relating to information technology ƒ the gapbetween those who have access and skills touse computers and those who do not. Thisgap is particularly pronounced between urbanand rural populations in Sindh, but also existsin urban areas between different age andsocio-economic groups. Furthermore, thequality of Internet access provided throughPoint of Presence telecommunications(whereby callers from smaller towns canconnect to Internet Service Providers in thenearest city at the cost of a local call) is aserious issue.

Cultural Heritage andEcotourismSindh is a province rich in cultural heritage.From religious sites in Sukkur, Thatta, andSehwan districts to the remains of ancientcivilizations like Mohenjodaro and theRannikot Fort, it is characterized by itsdiversity and close ties to the great IndusValley Civilization of the Third Millennium B.C.

Eighty-four sites in Sindh are protected underthe Department of Archaeology, GoP, butthese sites are still not given adequateattention in terms of security, conservation,and the development of their tourist potential.There is no proper inventory system ordetailed listing of heritage property andconservation zones. As a result, there is nodatabase on the existing antiquities in theprovince.

Traditional vernacular architecture is beingreplaced by badly designed modern buildings,primarily due to the lack of culturally sensitiveregulations and building control authorities,which could facilitate the preservation ofarchitectural heritage and cultural values.Appropriate planning guidelines andregulations that ensure continuity of heritagevalues need to be developed and firmlyadopted.

Current funding for institutions is insufficientto effectively monitor the listed culturalheritage declared protected under the SindhCultural Heritage Preservation Act of 1994.Many of these sites have disappeared.Owners of cultural heritage sites have few incentives to maintain or safeguard these assets.

Building control authorities do not have theappropriate capacity, principles or bylaws toconserve cultural heritage sites. There are noregulations that declare historic areas asconservation zones where only restricteddevelopments could take place within theconfines of conservation bylaws. TheDepartment of Culture»s archaeologicalactivities in Sindh need professionalexploration, documentation, and excavation.This needs to be followed by appropriate

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conservation activities for artefacts, sites, andmonuments.

Restoration projects for dilapidated andculturally significant sites need to be linkedwith tourism development opportunities. Thisshould be a cumulative process as sitesbecome restored.

The field of domestic tourism, which couldeasily be promoted in the country toencourage local funds to stay within thecountry, is also wholly unexplored territory.Some constraints to growth includeinadequate funding, lack of legal framework,high taxes on hotels and resorts, and poorcoordination between government agenciesand the private sector. Some of theseproblems are attributable to the tourism sectornot being recognized as a legitimate industry.

To promote tourism in Sindh, it is important toconstruct approach roads to various touristsites, provide public and private transport fortourists, publish guide books, and conductorganized tours from city centres.

Implementation Mechanisms

The overall coordination of the SSSD is themandate of the P&DD GoS. An AdvisoryCommittee on preparation of the SSSD wasconstituted under the chairmanship of theAdditional Chief Secretary (Development). Thisadvisory committee has the representation of

all stakeholders including the government,NGOs, the academe, industries, journalists,farmers (abadgars), chambers of commerceand industry, and IUCN.

An Executive Council has been proposed,comprising the Chief Minister as chairman andall the Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary, andAdditional Chief Secretary (Development) asmembers; the Chief Economist, P&DD, wouldserve as member/Secretary. An ExecutiveCommittee should be established under thechairmanship of the Chief Secretary. Thisshould be assisted by a Provincial SteeringCommittee to guide, monitor, and implementthe SSSD. The private sector and civil societymust also be encouraged to play a role inimplementation.

The implementation of a strategy forsustainable development would be a futileexercise without a proper and effectivemonitoring and evaluation (M&E) system.The framework for M&E would not onlyinclude mechanisms to monitor and assessprojects and programmes taken up throughthe SSSD, but also the stakeholders,including the government agencies, NGOs,private sector and communities associatedand involved with the SSSD at variouslevels.

Financial resources are necessary toeffectively implement the recommendations ofthe strategy. The Five Year Plan, annualdevelopment plans, public sectordevelopment funds, donors, and the privatesector could be tapped for funding.

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