MITHI: The leaders of Karoonjhar Sujag Forum, Hakro Literary Forum and civil society have reminded Sindh government on the occasion of International Mountains Day of its responsibility towards the preservation of nature and demanded strict measures for the protection of beautiful Karoonjhar hills from unabated illegal quarrying, which has badly tainted the hills’ natural beauty.

Allah Rakhio Khoso, Zulfiquar Ali Khoso, Prem Singh Rajput and other leaders of the two forums told media persons here the other day that it was high time the government declared the entire area around Karoonjhar hills as the world heritage site in the fulfillment of a promise made by the provincial rulers time and again. The step would greatly help to protect the hills from further damage, they said.

They said that the hills had over the years attracted millions of tourists from across the country and beyond and it was paramount duty of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s rulers to protect such scenic and enchanting sites from damage being done to them unabatedly by greedy contractors, who according to them, were still extracting precious granite stone from the hills at various points.

They feared the contractors’ illegal quarrying for gravel and granite in Karoonjhar hills, which were used in the construction of small dams for harnessing rainwater across Thar, had already caused massive damage to the hills.

They demanded authorities concerned take stern action against such unscrupulous elements in compliance with orders of Sindh High Court which had passed judgement on a plea field by Allah Rakhio Khoso that over 106 points along the hills had religious significance hence all type of extraction and mining was banned in and around the hills.

They said that in the light of the court order, the government should work for getting the hills included in a list of world heritage sites to ensure complete protection and preservation of the hills after carrying out surveys and studies by experts.

The leaders said that it was very unfortunate that when people of the world were trying to save their mountains and hills through vigorous drives the beautiful hills of Karoo-njhar were still suffering irreparable damage at the hands of unconscientious people.

People from different walks of life launched a drive for Karoonjhar hills on Twitter and other platforms of social media, demanding protection and promotion of tourism by providing more facilities to the people visiting the sites in the Parkar region.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2022