August 31, 2006	Thursday	Sha'aban 6, 1427

KARACHI, Aug 30: The recent rains aggravated the ecological and social problems caused by the construction of Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) project and added to the miseries of the people living in Badin and other parts of the province.

These problems could be mitigated with the active help and cooperation of organisations like World Conservation Union (IUCN).

This was stated by the additional chief secretary Planning and Development Sindh Ghulam Sarwar Khero in a meeting on Wednesday with the IUCN regional director for Asia Ms Aban Markar Kabraji.

“With the proper management and planning such kind of episodes can be prevented in future,” said Mr Khero in an e-mail release of the meeting.

The Sindh government wants the IUCN to identify the remedial measures so that with ecological improvement the economic conditions of the people affected by the catastrophe could also be addressed, he added.

Ms Kabraji informed the meeting that the IUCN had clearly indicated the devastating implications of the LBOD but unfortunately no heed was paid.”

There is a general feeling that donors and other organisations are not paying enough attention on southern parts of Pakistan where there is tremendous potential for cooperation.