LAHORE, March 29: The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature is concerned at the reports of the launch of a mega project at Bundal and Buddo islands by a giant real estate developer group.

In a statement, the WWF cited advertisements published in a newspaper published on Feb 27, inviting the public to comment on the “Island City” business venture, and said the proposed project area was part of the Indus Delta and home to mangrove forest cover, which was part of the overall forest cover of the country.

The area is home to 96 species of fish and provides breeding and nursery grounds for economically important species like shrimp and other shellfish, says the press release.

This diverse ecosystem also provides habitat for different species of marine turtles, marine dolphin (three species) and birds (54 species), which are a part of Karachi’s natural heritage.

WWF–Pakistan Director Ali Hasan Habib adds that both ill-chosen sites are a source of income for thousands of fishermen. Their catch adds a significant amount to the fishing export business in Karachi and supplies various species of fish and shellfish to local markets across the country.

Apart from economic benefits, further decreasing mangrove forest cover in the area will pose a threat to safety of coastal populations in extreme weather conditions. Mangroves had a major role in saving lives and property in the 2004 tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean. There are clear and very real benefits of mangroves in protecting Karachi in the event of a tsunami. Mangrove forests also filter sewerage water of the metropolitan city and purify the air. The air and water quality of Karachi will further deteriorate without the mangroves on Bundal and Buddoo Islands. This area has been categorised as a high priority ecosystem by IUCN.

The WWF–Pakistan has invoked the Environmental Protection Act of 1997 demanding an initial environmental assessment and then an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be conducted before any development takes place. These assessments will look at the broader environmental risks and suggest environmental management plans to mitigate the impacts. The EIA process also requires an investigation of possible alternative sites for the project.

“It is ill-advised to advertise that a project will create new jobs when it takes away the livelihood of thousands of the poorest of fisher folk working on and around the islands. It will destroy the habitat of hundreds of species of birds, insects, fish and animals by building luxury houses for one species and will add to the environmental degradation of the area. This is counterproductive and in direct opposition to any logical modes of sustainable development, which our country needs desperately,” he says.

Based on the facts, the WWF–Pakistan has requested Bahria Town to reconsider the location of the project.

The release says the statement and a detailed position statement had been sent to the Bahria Town Corporate Office and the copies were shared with the secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change, Islamabad; the secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Islamabad; the director general of the Pakistan Coast Guards, Karachi; the director general of the Maritime Security Agency, Karachi; the commander of the Pakistan Navy, Karachi; the Board of Revenue chairman, Sindh, Karachi; the Port Qasim Authority chairman, Karachi; the Karachi Port Trust chairman, Karachi; the Defense Housing Authority chairman, Karachi; the Federal Government Board of Revenue chairman, Islamabad; the National Disaster Management Authority chairman; the Forest and Wildlife Department secretary, Sindh, Karachi; Muhammad A. Rajpar, board member, Port Qasim Authority; and the WWF-Pakistan president, Karachi.