The WWF Pakistan Board of Governors showed concern at the ill-planned proposed “Sugar Land City”. The meeting of the Governors was held at the WWF Wetlands Center at Sandspit on 26 April, 2008.
Presiding over the meeting, the President of WWF Pakistan, Iqbal Ahmed Qarshi showed concern that the 350 hectares of mangrove forests at Sandspit and the Marine Turtle beach in the area would be seriously threatened if any ill-planned urban development takes place. The Board of Governors passed a resolution to work with the Sindh Wildlife Department, the Karachi Port Trust and the Federal Ministry of Environment to have the area declared as a “ Wildlife Sanctuary” and a “Ramsar Site”. A Ramsar Site notification can be obtained by sending an application to the UN Ramsar Convention which recognizes wetlands of global ecological significance.

While WWF Pakistan is not against development, this needs to be done in an intelligent manner, providing equitable benefits to a wide spectrum of the citizens of the country.

The Sandspit region is unique considering its proximity to one of the largest cities of Asia, and containing one of the best Marine Turtle nesting beaches in the world. WWF Pakistan committed to increase its efforts for conserving this unique natural heritage and helping improve the livelihoods of the nearby fisher folk community.

Saman Ehsan
WWF -Pakistan
Ferozepur Road,Lahore.
Tel: +92 042-111-993-725,
Email: publications@wwf.org.pk