KARACHI, Feb 18: An exhaustive study conducted by foreign consultants with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank shows that increasing poverty in Sindh, particularly its coastal areas, and widespread unemployment is resulting in migration from rural to urban centres, especially Karachi. This phenomenon is also responsible for the growing number of slums and katchi abadis in the city.
The study finds that poverty in the coastal areas has stricken at least 54 per cent of Sindh’s population. Of this, 79 per cent constitutes the poorest. The study is a part of the ADB programme vis-à-vis a $36 million lending for reducing poverty and improving the environment in the coastal areas of Sindh.
The province has 23 per cent of the country’s total population and a coastline of stretched over 350 kms, a major part of which comprises the Indus delta.
The project will be implemented over a period of six years starting the first quarter of 2007. The Coastal Development Authority, has been assigned the task of improving sustainable livelihood of poor inhabitants of coastal talukas of Thatta and Badin districts – Ghorabari, Keti Bandar, Jati, Shah Bandar, Kharo Chhan, Mirpur Sakro and Fazil Rahu. Besides, the CDA will initiate several other development projects in its jurisdiction.
The study notes that a population of over one million faces lack of income opportunities and access to government services in the rapidly declining environmental conditions.
Recounting the reasons for increasing poverty, the study points out that reduced downstream flow at Kotri Barrage from the Indus is strongly believed to have caused sea intrusion on the once fertile delta lands. It has also caused a devastating effect on the mangrove forests.
The depletion of mangrove forests has resulted in lesser protection to fish resources, and also in over-fishing/undersize fish catch, an overall decline in fish catch, etc. Additional force engaged in fishing or dependence on fishing has resulted in less income per household, thus increase in poverty in the coastal community of the area.
A summary of the project has been moved for government approval. It is based on following four components:
1. Improvement in coastal management, including mangrove planting, fish and raft pond development and hatchery rehabilitation
2. Community development, including community organisation, demand driven small-scale community-managed initiatives and demand driven local government managed medium-scale initiatives.
3. Institutional capacity development, including fisheries/brackish water and water quality survey, and district capacity building, support for CDA management including geographic information systems, coastal development plan and monitoring arrangements.
4. Project management, including project management unit (PMU) and two district offices, vehicles, furnishing equipment, and management consultants.