HYDERABAD: The two-day ‘9th Hyderabad Literature Festival (HLF)’ began on Saturday at the Sindh Museum on Saturday with a few sessions on different topics.

Discussing climate change, moderator Javed Soz observed that it was a subject which was seriously discussed neither by governments nor by the general public although it was one of the most important issues of global concern. “We need to pay serious attention to this issue,” he said.

A panelist Tariq Alexander said that Sindh was faced with water shortage problem; underground water happened to be brackish. He maintained that Indus River had been contaminated and polluted while the Indus delta was vanishing. He noted with concern that the people living in the Indus delta areas were facing poverty and impoverishment. The delta’s survival was the key for environment, he added.

Environmental activist Nasir Panhwar said that urban settlements emerged without any planning as there was no Master Plan available. He said that these settlements had blocked old natural waterways and as a result of which destructions were seen in urban areas. He said that temperature was also rising every year while agricultural lands had been converted to housing schemes.

He stated that this situation would lead to food insecurity. He said that world was focusing on ‘clean energy’ and utilising all resources for this energy whereas Pakistan was still promoting unhealthy anti-environment energy.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum representative Fatima Majeed said that mangroves were ‘respected’ by fishermen. These mangroves have been serving as sources of livelihood as they help flourish fish production but now these forests are being uprooted. She said that mangroves historically grew at the locations where sweet and sea waters meet but Indus River sadly had been witnessing inadequate flows. She said sweet Indus water flows was not reaching the sea. She said that Indus River was destroyed over the last 70 years although its creation took centuries. She regretted that dams and canals were built to empty the river and destroy its delta. According to one estimate, she said, 4.2m acres of land had been devoured by sea in Sindh. She said waste of entire Karachi fell into the sea.

More sessions including “Sindhi nationalists parliamentary politics” featuring Dr Qadir Magsi and Ayaz Latif Palijo were scheduled for the evening.

The festival was inaugurated by caretaker Information Minister Ahmed Shah.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2024