KARACHI, June 8: The World Wide Fund for Nature in Pakistan organized two programmes to celebrate the World Ocean Day on Wednesday. The World Ocean Day is celebrated every year on June 8 to create awareness amongst the masses to preserve marine resources and their right use. The theme chosen for this year by the World Ocean Network was “Eat Fish Sensibly”.

In this connection, WWF-Pakistan organized a certificate distribution ceremony at Civic Centre Karachi for school children upon their contribution towards conservation of nature and an experience sharing with stakeholders at Keti Bandar of district Thatta.

Keti Bandar Town, once a thriving municipality and important sea port, degraded due to sea erosion as a result of over harvesting of mangroves forest.

Highlighting the importance of the World Ocean Day while talking to area people at Keti Bandar, WWF-Pakistan Deputy Director-General Dr Ejaz Ahmed emphasized upon conservation of mangroves as they served as a natural barrier against rages of sea. He linked examples of recent Tsunami disaster, where in general, thick mangroves forests offered reasonable protection against giant waves as compared to mangroves deficient areas.

He asked the locals to help WWF in re-plantation of mangroves in Keti Bandar and lauded the efforts made by a group of women, Keti Women Development Organization, for conservation and upgradation of natural resources to ensure better environment for the coming generations.

Dr Ejaz said that the WWF was considering and discussing various initiatives with partner organizations including drinking water plant and training of teachers.

On the occasion, Forest Conservator Najmuddin Vistro thanked the WWF for efforts put together to conserve mangroves. He announced that federal government was also interested in mangroves conservation as forest department was planning to plant mangroves on 5,000 hectors area.

Prof (Dr) Javed of the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services said that his organization had provided modern sanitation system in Keti Bandar and planning to cover the whole town. He also talked about various products i.e. water heater, wax-based lamp, wood-efficient stoves developed to conserve energy.

Locals including representatives of female groups also spoke about their problems and thanked civil society organization for their overall role in resolving local issues.

The programme was concluded with inauguration of Girls Feeder School in Siddique Roonjho Goth, Keti Bander.

Hote Khan Jamali, Community Development Officer of WWF-Pakistan, informed the audience that 30 girls from Siddique Roonjho Goth and nearby areas would be benefited as this was the first school in that village, developed with the help of the National Commission for Human Development.

WWF Sindh Conservation Manager Ghulam Qadir Shah thanked the community for their support in conservation efforts and appealed local to help the WWF and forest department in mangroves conservation.—APP