HYDERABAD, Aug 31: The Planning and Development Department of Sindh organized a workshop in collaboration with the IUCN-the World Conservation Union, at a hotel here on Tuesday. Special secretary of the Planning and Development Department, Karachi, Rehana Ghulam Ali, called upon experts and policy makers to formulate a strategy for sustainable development in the province.

She said that Sindh government was keen to make its development sustainable not only to facilitate people but also to generate employment opportunities. She said a draft had been prepared for sustainable development, under the guidelines of Advisory Committee of the Sindh government, and had been discussed at various forums, and consultative workshops in Karachi.

Ms Ali said that the purpose of this workshop was to give final touches to the recommendations proposed by the advisory committee.

She said the strategy draft would be finalized after reviewing these recommendations.

The representative of IUCN in Pakistan, Mehmood Akhtar Cheema, said while addressing the workshop, that Sindh was rich in natural resources but was not achieving its targets due to lack of organizational and productive mechanisms.

He said that Sindh had a coast of 350Km and share 60 per cent of the total export of fisheries.

Mr Cheema said Sindh produces 40 per cent of poultry, 30 per cent of livestock, 43 per cent rice, and 30 to 50 per cent vegetables.

Sindh also has 60 per cent oil fields and 54 per cent gas fields, he said.

The IUCN representative said that balanced approach was needed in economic, environmental and social sectors.

Chief Conservator of Forests Mehboob Alam Ansari said the strategy draft was very important and essential for development of the society.

He said, though the draft paper possessed some valuable suggestions, it had many flaws.

He suggested that this draft paper should be resubmitted to the concerned organization for corrections.

Nasir Panhwar from IUCN, Karachi, said that IUCN was a World Conservation Union that encouraged and assisted the societies of the world for conservation and proper utilization of resources.

He said that the strategy draft was a unique achievement of the organization and hoped that it would contribute towards development of the province.