THATTA, Nov 24: The Asian Development Bank in collaboration with provincial and district governments has prepared Rs48.689 million development schemes for the coastal belt. The schemes are for health and education sectors and for creating job opportunities.

This was stated by District Nazim Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi at a seminar organized by the Coastal Development Authority in Makli on Wednesday.

He said the calamity-like situation for years had badly affected economy of the district where majority of people were living below the poverty line.

He said the sea was eroding lands in the region and salinity was also rendering fertile lands barren.

The nazim proposed erection of a 12-foot embankment along the Thatta coastline to protect further erosion of lands.

He also proposed that fishermen should be advanced loans for buying safe motor vessels for fishing. He regretted that only two to three of 18 NGOs in the district were operating effectively despite the NGOs had a lot of resources.

The nazim said woman teachers were in particular reluctant to perform duties in coastal areas.

Speaking on the occasion, ADB technical assistance team head Simon Tiller said the ADB was making huge investments in community welfare projects of 10 coastal talukas of Thatta and Badin districts.

CDA director general Munawar Opel, DCO Usman Panhwar and representatives of NGOs also spoke on the occasion.