KARACHI, Jan 16: The Sindhi Association of North America has slammed the government policy over the sale of two islands to a Dubai-based company and expressed solidarity with the indigenous communities while calling upon the government to immediately halt the work on the islands, cancel its agreement with the foreign firm and desist from the encroachment on provincial lands.

SANA President Aziz Narejo, in an email message sent on Tuesday, maintained that the central government decision to ‘sell’ two Sindh islands to a foreign firm to build a new city close to Ibrahim Hyderi in Karachi had drawn severe criticism by the area fishermen, civil society organizations, environmentalists, representatives of the indigenous communities and others.

He expressed grave concern at the government decision and said it would destroy the livelihood of thousands of fishermen, cause irrevocable damage to the already fragile ecosystem and environment in the coastal areas and cause social and political problems.

He stated, “The decision also refuted the government posture on provincial autonomy, as the Sindh chief minister, assembly or the concerned provincial departments were not even consulted before signing the contract”.