By By our correspondent
Journalists from Punjab have lauded eco-tourism measures in the province, stating that their recently-concluded visit to various environmental settings in Sindh had taught them much about social and culture dynamics of the province.
Talking to media personnel after the conclusion of their tour to Keenjhar Lake, the journalists appreciated the floating boat-house established at the lake. The floating boat house has been established by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP). The 17-member delegation of the Forum of Environmental Journalists (FEJ), Lahore was invited to Sindh by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indus for All Programme (IPM).
The delegation also visited government-built, low-cost houses near Jhirk, another project being implemented by UNDP SGP. The FEJ team also visited the village of Ayaz Mohammad Jakhro, and observed various interventions, including bio-gas plants and the nursery established by IPM WWF Pakistan and community organisations.
During their visit of these parts of Sindh, FEJ President Raja Riaz said that the visit not only helped them understand the environmental issues, but also acquaint them with social and culture dynamics of the province. Riaz said that they would approach the Punjab chief minister to replicate the Jhirk low-cost housing project model. He added that the message of peace and harmony of the Sufis of Sindh needed to be promoted across the country.
IPM Programme Coordinator Nasir Ali Panhwar said that environmental issues have no geographic boundaries, and hence everyone, particularly the media, should play their role in raising awareness. He hoped that the exposure visit to three IPM sites, Pai forest, Chotiari reservoir and Keenjhar Lake, would be useful for the visiting journalists, and said that they would now be in a better position to write about environmental issues.
Panhwar stressed the need for honest and accurate reporting of local, regional and international environmental and development issues. He said that in Sindh, WWF is working with Indus Journalists Forum on number of initiatives to enhance their capacity in environmental reporting.
UNDP GEF SGP National Coordinator Masood Lohar said that country is in a state of emergency with regards to environmental issues. Climate change is affecting the economy and ecology as hostile weather patterns are being experienced with acute water shortages. He said that the protection of the coastal ecosystem is vital for the entire country, adding that the monsoon is developed and regulated by the coastline.
Lohar said that it is high time that the tampering of costal ecosystem is stopped, and urged the need for people-to-people contact within the country. Zahid Jalbani and Hafeezullah of WWF briefed the delegation about various interventions at Keenjhar Lake and Keti Bunder, Indus delta with the local communities.