THATTA: Notices have been issued to occupants of all illegally raised structures within the Keenjhar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary — a Ramsar site — asking them to either vacate the spaces or produce valid legal documents before the revenue official concerned for verification of relevant transactions.
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty signed on Feb 2, 1971 in Ramsar city of Iran for the conservation and wise use of wetlands across the globe.
Issuance of the notices followed a complaint lodged with the district administration by the Keenjhar Maroora Welfare and Development Organisation.
According to Thatta Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Ali Bhaagat, an immediate inspection and survey of the identified area in Nabi Bakhsh Palari village was ordered to verify the association’s claim.
He said that Assistant Commissioner Shakir Fahim and the mukhtiarkar concerned, along with a team of the district administration recently visited the village and found encroachment of state-owned land, including parts of the Ramsar site.
“Legal notices under Section 22 of the Sindh Land Revenue Act have been issued to all those involved in the illegal occupation and land transactions concerning the spaces declared protected under the relevant laws,” he said.
The deputy commissioner said that they had been asked to either vacate the illegally occupied spaces or produce ownership documents, if they had purchased the same.
He said that the documents, if produced before the mukhtiarkar concerned, would be vetted and those found involved in illegal transactions would be identified and taken to task.
The DC has reminded all stakeholders that illegal construction, excavation, tree cutting, occupation or land transactions involving state property within the Keenjhar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is strictly prohibited under the relevant laws and will warrant strict legal action.
DC Bhaagat has also directed law enforcement agencies and field staff of the district administration to ensure that no further encroachments are resorted to and no more unauthorised structures are raised within the limits of the sanctuary.
He, however, directed all the officials concerned to maintain a status quo until completion of procedural and legal formalities. He said appropriate action would be taken once the legal requirements were completed.
Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026
