KARACHI, Feb 22: Sector-specific strategies on water, wetlands and freshwater fisheries in Sindh were discussed at a consultative workshop held here on Tuesday.

The participants highlighted the major issues pertaining to the sectors along with recommendations to bring about changes. The sector-specific strategies would be part of Sindh Strategy for Sustainable Development, which is being formulated by Sindh Planning and Development Department in collaboration with international union for conservation of nature (IUCN-Pakistan).

Secretary Environment Shamsul Haq Memon and Dr Ejaz Ahmed from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Pakistan) among others addressed at the workshop. They said that the sector-specific strategies would provide guidance to government, planners, policy makers, civil society and the private sector in promoting sustainable development within the field.

Besides, the strategies would help government departments to develop their respective annual development plans. The participants pointed out that water-logging and salinity had affected over 50 per cent of area in Sindh due to faulty irrigation practices and lack of drainage. They called for participatory irrigation and drainage policy, which should involve farmers to implement programmes.

They suggested that all research institutes should be involved in research and development in water sector. They said that technical research might be communicated through agriculture extension programmes as well as teaching programmes.

Underlining the need to invest in research and water conservation, they stressed that water efficient crops and introduction of land levelling should be promoted. Besides, they recommended that groundwater level should be assessed to ensure that excess extraction may not take place.

About fresh water fisheries, the participants suggested that contract-based system in terms of access to water bodies should be discouraged, instead, fishermen cooperative societies from village to district level should be set up.

They also underlined the need to maintain data on fish stocks and harvest for sustainable exploitation, conservation and stock replenishment. Abandoned infrastructures (sick units, unproductive hatchery units) should be handed over to fishermen to run these on a cooperative basis. Besides, infrastructure facilities including roads, electricity and transport to fish farms must be provided.

They called for conducting a comprehensive training programme for fishermen on better fishing methods, use of gear, conservation and protection of marine ecosystem from over-exploitation, harmful fishing nets and pollution. Development of fish farming industry should be encouraged by providing technical expertise, credit facilities and sufficient supply of quality fish seed.

The workshop urged the protection of inland waters from pollution which are already affected due to reduced supply from Indus River. Moreover, it was recommended that hatcheries should be set up to supply seeds for aquaculture.

Regarding wetlands which include rivers, ponds, standing water, mangrove forests and natural as well as artificial water bodies, they recommended that illegal occupation of wetlands should be eliminated.

It was recommended that wetlands should be protected with the rights of local community and indigenous knowledge should be incorporated into policy for wetland conservation. Besides, natural wetland system should be linked with the Indus Delta which is not getting enough freshwater.

Referring to Haleji and Keenjhar lakes, they regretted that both these sites though important for biodiversity were facing the problems of eutrophication. They called for developing wetland management plans with coordination of all stakeholders. Desert wetlands need special attention and policy.

Among others, Shoukat Rahmoon of On-farm Water Management, Dr Mumtaz Suhag from SIDA, Simi Kamal of the Pakistan Water Partnership, Prof Mushtaqe Mirani, A.G. Pirzada, Ali Raza Rizvi, Tahir Qureshi, Sana Raza, Najam Khursheed, Nasir Ali Panhwar and Najia Siddiqui attended the workshop. -APP