KARACHI: UNDP for role of NGOs in environmental projects
KARACHI, July 2: The UNDP has proposed to the Sindh government to involve local communities, NGOs, CBOs in the projects of the National Environmental Action Plan Support Programme in the province.
The UNDP has approved to provide 42 million US dollars as a grant for undertaking poverty alleviation-linked environmental projects in Pakistan.
Speaking at a presentation, UNDP country representative Onder Yucer, quoting examples of planting of mangroves by local communities, suggested that local communities, NGOs/CBOs might be involved for raising their livelihood and income-generation in the poverty-stricken rural areas of the province.
The programme aims to improve environmental conditions with emphasis on clean air, clean water, solid waste management and ecosystem management. A steering committee has already been constituted to give final approval to the projects. The projects will be formulated and implemented under six sub-programmes that include pollution control, energy conservation, water conservation and dry land management.
The officials of the provincial forest department explained the project proposals prepared for funding through the NEAP.
The additional secretary of environment, local government and rural development, informed the meeting that NEAP is spread over five years and the funds could be allocated more than US$ 42 million as a grant. To coordinate the project activities at provincial level, NEAP cells were being established in Sindh and Balochistan, he said and added that mega projects could not be funded under this programme.
Shahzado Shaikh informed the federal team that Sindh being most poverty-stricken province needs more attention of federal government as well as donor agencies.
In Sindh, poverty is more than 61 per cent while it is 90 percent in coastal areas where
75 per cent of the ground water is brackish, sea intrusion has eroded cultivated areas, he added.
The ACS said poverty in Sindh is chronic and transfers from one generation to another and has penetrated our economy.
The meeting decided to constitute a priority committee for prioritizing the NEAP proposals of line departments. The concept proposals will be forwarded to federal government by July 8 while the concerned departments will prepare small to medium size concept proposals ranging three years and submit to planning and development department by July 6 next. The governor will also be apprised of the latest development through a summary on NEAP. A similar meeting will also be held in Islamabad on 4 and 5 July.
Meanwhile,l the UNDP Chief, called on Governor Mohammedmian Soomro at the Governor House here on Tuesday.
On the occasion, the Governor briefed the visitor about the ongoing reforms programme and details about development schemes.
The UNDP chief appreciated the ongoing programmes for environment improvement and particularly evinced keen interest in the measures taken in the irrigation sector.—APP
