KARACHI, March 1: A comprehensive master plan, encompassing all aspects, is being prepared for coastal areas of Karachi, Thatta and Badin.

The Rs 3 million activity will be carried out by a consultant who will prepare the plan and submit it to the Sindh Forests Department (SFD) in a few months.

Various stake-holders, speaking at a workshop organized by the forest department, on the preparation of the master plan for coastal areas, said interests of the local communities and the stakeholders be kept in mind while making the plan.

They suggested that eco-tourism be promoted in the region so that the earning of the communities increased. Infra-structure be developed so that the tourists and interested people could have an easy access to the historical, as well heritage sites, in the area.

Mangrove forests be replanted in the deltic region. Coconut and oil palms plantations be done on high lying and well-drained soils free of salinity for maximum productivity to meet domestic cooking oil requirements.

They said that renewable energy resources, such as wind generators, solar energy panels, be developed and power from ocean tide currents be harnessed.

They said steps be taken to prevent the coastal and marine pollution through environmental monitoring, solid and waste water treatment and solid-waste management, etc.

Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser on Forests and Wildlife Syed Aijaz Ali Shah Shirazi, Sindh forests secretary Shams-ul-Haq Memon, chief forests conservator G. Mustafa Shaikh, Mahboob Ansari, and others spoke. A large number of representatives of civil society organizations, NGOs, environmentalists, and others also participated.