KARACHI, April 11: The Sindh government has constituted a steering committee for the uplift and management of “KACHO” areas falling within the boundaries of the districts Sukkur, Shikarpur, Ghotki and Jacobabad.

The steering committee would work under the guidance of minister for agriculture, forest, wildlife and environment, and additional chief secretary (development) will be its chairman.

The terms of reference of the committee are:

To include all the marginal and arable lands which are state- owned, presently free from any short/long term lease, not included in any schedule for the disposal under the present land grant policy in vogue and those forest areas which are completely devoid of any tree growth/tree cover, falling within the district boundaries of Sukkur, Shikarpur, Ghotki and Jacobabad.

To formulate short/long term biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem improvement and poverty alleviation projects in the “KACHO” areas for alleviation and uplift of the area through various viable mitigating measures to increase productivity and reduce unemployment.

To explore possibilities of considering various viable development projects on multiple land-use concepts by associating local communities who are directly or indirectly dependent upon these areas. To establish a local banking system on the lines of Khushal Bank.—PPI