More

    Pakistan’s Bundal, Buddo islands declared protected forests

    EnvironmentPakistan's Bundal, Buddo islands declared protected forests
    - Advertisment -

    Pakistan’s Bundal, Buddo islands declared protected forests

    Sindh provincial government has brought down Imran Khan’s pet urbanisation project. The Pakistan prime minister has had plans to create a modern city on the Bundal island that, his government claims, would vie with the razzmatazz of Dubai.

    The provincial government of Sindh today declared the Bundal and Buddo islands as properties of the Sindh government. The provincial cabinet has designated these islands protected forests.

    Sindh chief minister, Murad Ali Shah approved a summary that states the islands will hence onward be forests (as these are presently). By extension of understanding, the federal government will not have any ownership over the land.

    The islands have been formed by silt deposited by the rivers in the Arabian Sea as rivers eroded embankments in the country’s north. Over time, these have come to occupy over 10,000 acres of land in between them. Bundal is about an fifth the size of Mumbai.

    - Advertisement -

    This could set the stage for a clash. In 2020, Pakistan president Arif Alvi signed a presidential ordinance creating the Pakistan island development authority to facilitate prime minister Imran Khan’s dream project of establishing a multiple-skyscraper skylined modern city in Bundal that would be promoted as tourist destinations that would vie with the razzmatazz of Dubai.

    The island development authority was given the responsibility of developing the islands that, it said were in Pakistan’s “internal waters” – a definition that gave the federal government the scope to claim the islands.

    Protests by environmentalists

    Indeed, the Sindh government had been a mute spectator all this while until its political opposition and environmental activists objected to the project.

    The matter also went to the Sindh High Court where petitioners argued that since the islands were within 12 nautical miles off the coastline, they were part of the provincial government. Federal territory in the sea, the petitioner contended, starts only after 12 nautical miles.

    Imran Khan, however, kept prodding the Sindh government to allow him to urbanise the islands. He recently said, “Our cities are growing fast in the most unorganized way. We need to develop new cities. The way our cities are expanding, we would not be able to manage them. We would not be able to provide them transport, control their sewage system or manage their water supply.”

    Reveling his obsession with Dubai, he told the Sindh government, “We need to develop new cities like Dubai and New York. The development of these islands would benefit Sindh, its people and its economy. I request you (Sindh government) to allow this.”

    (OWSA had earlier reported on Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s plans to create a modern city on the Bundal island that, his government claimed, would vie with the razzmatazz of Dubai.)

    Activists jubilant

    OWSA had reported that environmentalists had objected to the plans to set up a city by deforesting the mangrove island. Sindh’s fishermen too had resisted the move. But the government in Islamabad has been adamant.

    Today, the government said in a statement: “No talks on the island would be held with the federal government until and unless the controversial ordinance was withdrawn.”

    Environmentalists are happy. They have all through argued that a third of Karachi’s green cover is preserved inside the mangroves off the coast, including the two islands and any development around them will threaten the environment.

    The islands are a mangrove ecosystem, with tidal waves submerging most of these twice a day. This makes the islands a home and nursery for umpteen marine species.

    - Advertisement -

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Latest news

    India Among Six Most Affected Countries by Extreme Weather Events

    The long-term assessment of the CRI 2025, covering data from 1993 to 2022, places India as the sixth most affected country globally due to extreme weather events. Over this period, India reported a staggering loss of 80,000 lives and economic damages amounting to $200 billion.

    Calculated, Coordinated Crackdown – UN Report Uncovers Systematic Repression in Bangladesh Protests

    The mass mobilisation saw participation from people across different backgrounds, including women and children. Faced with this growing opposition, the former government resorted to increasingly violent means to maintain power. The UN report describes a deliberate strategy orchestrated at the highest levels of the former administration.

    Adani Green Energy Withdraws from $1 Billion Wind Power Project in Sri Lanka

    There has been a raging debate in Sri Lanka on the deal, citing it as an expensive deal. The earlier government had agreed to purchase power from Adani’s 484-megawatt wind power project at a rate of 8.26 US cents per unit under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

    IMF Chief Reaffirms Support for Pakistan’s Reforms in Meeting with Shehbaz Sharif

    Georgieva praised Pakistan’s efforts in implementing the IMF-supported program, acknowledging the country’s improving economic performance with rising growth and declining inflation. She recognized Pakistan’s economic recovery and noted that it is on a positive trajectory.
    - Advertisement -

    In the Lok Sabha: Government Reports Significant Progress on Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

    Eligible projects include warehouses, silos, cold chains, logistics facilities, and smart precision agriculture infrastructure. Loan applicants must contribute at least 10 per cent of the project cost, and an entity can apply for up to 25 projects, each eligible for a loan of up to Rs. 2 crore.

    In the Lok Sabha: Over 68,000 Lakes Constructed as Part of Mission Amrit Sarovar

    With the successful completion of more than 68,000 Sarovars ahead of schedule, the government has now launched the second phase of Mission Amrit Sarovar. This phase will emphasise ensuring sustainable water availability and climate resilience, with community participation (Jan Bhagidari) being the core focus.

    Must read

    India Among Six Most Affected Countries by Extreme Weather Events

    The long-term assessment of the CRI 2025, covering data from 1993 to 2022, places India as the sixth most affected country globally due to extreme weather events. Over this period, India reported a staggering loss of 80,000 lives and economic damages amounting to $200 billion.

    Calculated, Coordinated Crackdown – UN Report Uncovers Systematic Repression in Bangladesh Protests

    The mass mobilisation saw participation from people across different backgrounds, including women and children. Faced with this growing opposition, the former government resorted to increasingly violent means to maintain power. The UN report describes a deliberate strategy orchestrated at the highest levels of the former administration.
    - Advertisement -

    More from the sectionRELATED
    Recommended to you