Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) Chairman Muhammad Yousuf Memon has said the government is actively considering proposals to address the problems of the people of desert areas of Sindh. Memon, talking to people during his visit to different villages of Tharparkar district, said the issues to be addressed would particularly included provision for energy and safe water, according to a press release issued here on Friday. The prime objective of the government, he said, was to provide all facilities to the people of the desert as well as remote parts of the country.

Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri has said that the government will soon announce a policy for pollution control and energy conservation. She was speaking at a recently held Earth Day Carnival, jointly organised by Promoloon and UHU at Sindbad Kids park in connection with World Environment Day. Social Welfare Minister Begum N D Khan, was also present on the occasion. Shazia Marri underlined the need for a joint struggle to solving these problems which were the outcome of population explosion in the country.

The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has hailed the announcement of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to increase the support price of wheat from Rs510 per 40 kg to Rs625, but expressed concern over the in

Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo urged the newly-elected government on Thursday to appoint an international and impartial commission of water experts to help solve the perennial dispute among prov

There will be considerable shortage of irrigation water supplies in Sindh due to lesser flows in the rivers of Pakistan and it has been decided to resort to intensive rotation flows from March 15. Sindh is getting only 20,400 cusecs in canals against accord share of 37,500 cusecs on 28.2.2008. Thus the shortage has reached to the extent of 45 percent, a spokesman of Irrigation and Power Department said on Thursday. The farmers, domestic consumers and all others using water from irrigation network in Sindh informed that with 45 percent shortage the situation is crucial and the department is taking following measures: (a) Drinking water for Karachi will be maintained. (b) Some flows for drinking purpose will be allowed in Fuleli and Pinyari Canals. (c) Supplies to Gudu Barrage Canals will be reduced to 1,250 cusecs being 50 percent shortage. (d) Supplies to Sukkur Barrage canals will be reduced to 15,000 cusecs being 50 percent shortage. (e) Supplies to Kotri Barrage canals will be enhanced to 3,000 cusecs to cater for drinking water requirements, which is 42 percent shortage. The spokesman said that in view of the situation, intensive rotation of canal flows will have to be enforced. The Chief Engineers/Managing Director SIDA have been directed to announce canal flows rotation programme according to the availability at each barrage/canal. This intensive rotation programme will be enforced from March 15 and department will made all efforts to arrange for judicious sharing of water and deliver due share to all the tails of the system and control water theft. Farmers and all others using Irrigation water have been advised to use available water carefully.-PR Copyright Business Recorder, 2008

Civic agencies such as the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board have expressed reservations about the project.

The Economic Coordination Committee of the federal cabinet of Pakistan approved the proposal of the Diamond Bar Island City in October 2006. The project, to be built on the 4,856-hectacre (ha) Buddo and Bundal islands located off the southwestern tip of Karachi coast, is facing stiff resistance because it poses an environmental threat to marine life and the mangroves, besides being a livelihood issue for the fisherfolk.

The Sindh Wildlife Department is opposing oil exploration in a national park in Pakistan