BADIN, April 23: Deforestation is one of the main causes of soil erosion, environmental pollution, and a threat to the lives and property of the inhabitants living on the earth.
This was observed at a seminar held here on Monday at the auditorium hall to mark the Earth Day.
The seminar was organized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Pakistan, in collaboration with the Sindh Tarraqi Passand Mallah Tanzeem.
The speakers said that forests in Sindh were being eliminated rapidly and 400,000 acres of forest trees had been cut.
They said that through the chopping of the trees adjacent to the Indus River as well as other places, mostly in upper Sindh, on the pretext to combat dacoits, the influential people wanted to grab the fertile lands of the forests for agriculture cultivation.
They urged the government to protect the forests in Sukkur, Larkana, Ghotki and Shikarpur from devastation.
The speakers expressed concern over the shortage of sweet water which was seriously being reduced, and added that it was being replaced by water-logging and salinity due to various reasons.
They warned that if sufficient water was not restored in the Indus River and the intrusion of saline sea water continued, it would not only render Badin District barren but the people of the area would also be compelled to migrate.
The speakers emphasized that everyone should protect the earth just as one protects himself for his well-being.
RAID: The anti-corruption circle officer, Badin, along with the civil judge, first civil magistrate, Badin, conducted a raid on the office of the assistant director, Rural Development, and took the record into his possession.
According to the circle officer, Faiz M. Qureshi, misappropriation worth Rs4 million was reported by the office in the distribution of hand-pumps.
POLLING STATIONS: The district coordination officer, Badin, said that 796 polling stations with 1,631 booths had been established in Badin District for the referendum on April 30.
He said that to facilitate the voters, polling stations at public places and bus stops had also been set up.
The DCO said that 452 presiding officers and other staff at the polling stations would perform their duties.