News and Events

01 April 2012:
Call to Protect Keenjhar Lake
Thatta , Indus for All Programme of WWF Pakistan in collaboration with Keenjhar Conservation Network organized a festival at Keenjhar Lake. Speaking at the occasion Deputy Commissioner Thatta Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sial said that Keejhar Lake is vital wetland having mutilple functions inlcuindg economic and social well being of local people. He said that Lake is also famous for folk story of Noori Jam Tamachi and an intergeral part of cultural heritage of Sindh. He expressed his concern on mushroom growth of infrstaructure around the Lake and said that beauty of the Lake must be preserved. more

20 March 2012:
11th Meeting of Indus Eco-region Steering Committee held
Karachi, The 11th meeting of the Indus Eco-region Steering Committee (IESC) held on March 20, 2012 in the committee room of the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh. The Secretary Planning & Development Department, Mr. Mushtaq Chandina chaired the meeting on behalf of the Additional Chief Secretary, Planning & Development Department Government of Sindh. more

14 March 2012:
International Rivers Day observed
Karachi, Friends of Indus Forum in collaboration with WWF observed the International Rivers Day and launched two position papers namely Indus River Downstream Kotri and Manchar Lake. Speaking on the occasion Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo said that last two years were very significant in terms of studying the impacts of climate change. Pakistan witnessed devastating floods in 2010 and heavy rains in 2011. He elaborated that rehabilitation of disaster affected people and draining out of water were two big challenges for them. He said that natural wetlands are diminishing at faster pace. more

03 March 2012:
Call for urgent measures to protect wetlands
Nawabshah, Speakers have urged the government to promote Information technology in rural areas to improve the socio economic conditions. They were speaking at the inauguration ceremony of information technology centre established at Sakrand by Pai Forest Action Network (PFAN) in collaboration with WWF’s Indus for All Programme.more

02 Feburary 2012:
Call for urgent measures to protect wetlands
Thatta,World Wide Fund for Nature, (WWF) Pakistan’s Indus for all Programme observed world wetlands day at Keenjhar Lake, Thatta. The event was attended by government officials, NGOs representatives; media persons and students from nature clubs.more

06 January 2012:
Pai Much Kachehry held
WWF-P’s Indus for All Programme organized a campfire ( Much Kachaher) in village Marri Jalbani near Pai Forest to revive the decades old cultural tradition of Sindh. Speakers emphasized the significance of culture in promoting the message of humanism, love, fraternity, equality, spiritualism and sustainable use of natural resources. They said that cultural gatherings give birth to folk wisdom which is vital for harmonizing human life with different aspects of nature. They demanded that deforestation and illegal occupation of forest lands in Sindh should be checked to save precious natural resources.more

29 December 2011:
Fifth Annual Review and Networking Meeting held
Karachi,The fifth Annual Review and Networking Meeting of Indus for All Programme being implemented by the World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan was held here at local hotel. The meeting was attended by a large number of organizations, including heads and representatives of government departments, civil society organizations, corporate sector, media and researchers.more

23 December 2011:
Call to preserve cultural heritage through wise use of natural resources 
Thatta,Speakers highlighted that conservation of natural resources is vital for not only eco system but its conservation is also vital for preserving rich cultural heritage. They were speaking at camp fire, a traditional gathering organized by Indus for All Programme WWF at the bank of Keenjhar Lake. They said that nature including wetlands have remained source of inspiration for poets and writers. The wetlands and other natural resources are part of rich literature of Sindh and added that great poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai has also covered natural beauty of Keenjhar Lake in Shah jo Risalo. more

14 December 2011:
Speakers call for utilization of renewable energy resources
Thatta, WWF-P’s Indus for All Programme observed World Energy Day at Makli, Thatta. The event was attended by Government officials including Deputy Commissioner Thatta, Muhammad Jaffar Abbasi, NGOs representatives, academia, civil society members and media persons. more

13 December 2011:
13th meeting of Sub-Committee of Indus Eco-region Steering Committee held
Karachi: The 13th meeting of Sub-Committee of Indus Eco-region Steering Committee [SCIESC] was held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Sohail Akbar Shah, Secretary Forests and Wildlife Department, Government of Sindh. more

2 December 2011:
Call for effective measures to curb environmental degradation
Hyderabad, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) under its Indus for All Programme organized two days training workshop on environmental indicators. The workshop aimed to build the capacity of government officials. Highlighting the need of development of environmental indicators in the major themes including fisheries, agriculture, livestock, forest and education, speakers said that awareness should be created among people about their significance to protect the environment and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. more

22 November 2011:
Call to promote sustainable management of fisheries
Thatta, Nov 22: WWF-Pakistan’s Indus for All Programme organized seminar to observe international fisheries day at Thatta. The seminar was attended by government officials, NGOs and CBOs representatives, civil society members and school children. more

18 November 2011:
Dutch Ambassador visits Keenjhar Lake
Keenjhar: The Dutch ambassador, His Highness Gajus Scheltema, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, visited Keenjhar Lake in Thatta district, to inaugurate the walkway at Keenjhar Conservation and Information Centre established by Indus for All Programme-WWF Pakistan with the support of the Embassy. The constructed walkway is expected to promote ecotourism, as it offers view to scenic beauty of the Lake and easy access to the Centre. more

03 November 2011:
Consultative workshop on revision of Sindh Forest Act 1927 held
Karachi, A revised version of the decades-old Forest Act 1927 suggests effective measures to protect the forests. The draft law ensures community participation, increase in the number of acts prohibited and enhancement of penalties and punishment for lawbreakers.The speakers highlighted the need for amending and replacing the old law enacted in 1927. more

20 October2011:
seminar on flood and climate changes
amshoro Oct 20: The speakers while speaking in one day seminar on flood and climate changes have urged upon the government and community leaders to be efficient for facing challenges of climate change to avoid so much human and physical losses and emphasized to improve the existing infrastructure of towns and cities.
The urge came in a seminar organized by the WWF Pakistan in collaboration with the University of Sindh at its senate hall.more

15 October2011:
New body of Friends of Indus Forum elected
Thatta : General body meeting of Friends of Indus Forum was held at Keenjhar. On this occasion new office bearers were elected for two years. Election was supervised by the committee consisting of founder president of Forum Mr. Naseer Memon, Mr. Shahid Panhwar and Mr. Ali Muhammad Shaikh. more

13 October2011:
International day for natural disaster reduction obsereved
Nawab Shah:Speakers have emphasized that children and young people should be involved in reducing risk to disasters. They were speaking at seminar to mark international day for natural disaster reduction organized by Indus for All Programme WWF Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion the EDO Education Razi Khan Jamali said that relief camps were established in 634 schools in district. more

Sanghar, Sep 17, 2011:
WWF provided food ration to flood affectees in Sanghar
In response to recent devastating floods in Sindh, WWF-Pakistan has played active role in rescue and relief activities. WWF-P has provided dry food ration, mosquito nets and repellants to 200 displaced families of 21 villages around Chotiari Reservoir, one of the sites of WWF's Indus for All Programme. Senior officials of WWF including NRM Coordinator, Mr. Umeed Khalid, Programme Coordinator, Mr. Nasir Ali Panhwar, Site Manager Chotiari, Mr. Zafar Ali Talpur and representatives of CBOs were present on the occasion. The ration included 20 kg flour , 3 kg sugar, 5 kg rice, 2 kg pulse (dal moung), 2.5 kg ghee, 800 gram tea, 400 gram red chili powder, 1 kg salt, 1 pack of match boxes, 2 soaps, one mosquito net and 2 bottles of mosquito repellants distributed to each affected family. more

Karachi, 24 August 2011:
10th Meeting of Indus Ecoregion Steering Committee held
Karachi, Aug 24: The 10th meeting of the Indus Ecoregion Steering Committee (IESC) held on August 24, 2011 at the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh. The Chief Economist Dr. Qazi Masood Ahmed chaired the meeting on behalf of Additional Chief Secretary, Planning & Development Department Government of Sindh. more

Sanghar, 24 June 2011:
Nature Festival held at Chotiari
Sanghar, June 24: Indus for All Programme – WWF Pakistan in collaboration with Chotiari Conservation Forum organized Nature Festival at Chotiari Conservation & Information Centre. Besides providing entertainment opportunity to local community, the festival promoted importance of conservation of biodiversity and environment of the unique ecosystem of Chotiari Wetland Complex. The event attracted more than 1500 people including herdsmen, fishermen and farmers living around the Chotiari Reservoir and adjacent lakes. more

 Thatta, 23 June 2011:
Keenjhar Melo held
Thatta, June 23: Indus for All Programme, WWF-P organized a local festival at Fisheries Hall, Keenjhar Lake in Thatta district. The festival was attended by representatives of NGOs andCBOs, civil society members, writers, poets, singers, students and local community people. more

Nawabshah, 05 June 2011:
Pai Nature Festival held in Nawab Shah to mark World Environment Day
Hundreds of people, including school children thronged to Pai Nature Festival, organized by WWF-Pakistan’s Indus for All Programme at H.M. Khowaja Library Nawabshah to mark the World Environment Day. The event was organized in collaboration with the District Government Shaheed Benazirabad and Cultural Youth Organization Talli Sakrand. more

Hyderabad, May 31,2011
Consultative workshop on revision of Sindh Forest Act 1927 held
Chief Conservator Forest Sindh Mir Nadir Ali Talpur has said that community participation in forest management is essential and needs of local communities depending on forest should be addressed. He was speaking at consultative workshop on revision of Sindh Forest act 1927 organized by Sindh Forest Department in collaboration with Indus for All Programme- WWF. more

Sanghar May 27
International Day for Biological Diversity observed in Sanghar
Indus for All Programme- WWF Pakistan observed the International Day for Biological Diversity in collaboration with Bahria Foundation College at Sanghar, The day is proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations to commemorate the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity, with the objective to raise awareness on biodiversity related issues and its significance to be conserved with increased indigenous community led actions. This year, the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity was "Biological Diversity and Forests". more

Hyderabad, May 25:
Three days training workshop on Proposal Development conducted
A three days capacity building training workshop on Proposal Development was organized for partner Civil Society Organizations of four programme sites from May 23-25, 2011 at Hyderabad. Twenty one members representing CBOs and CDOs from four sites participated in training workshop. Mr. Shahzad Bukhari GM four corner group was the lead Resource Person of the workshop, whereas Mr. Farhan Memon was co- facilitator of the workshop. , more

Thatta May 12
Floating matka and nets provided to Keenjhar Fishermen
Keenjhar Lake is under threat due to increased industrial and domestic effluent discharge through the Kalri-Baghar Feeder canal which carries contaminants from Kotri industrial area. This was stated by the Programme Coordinator WWF Nasir Ali Panhwar at a ceremony organized for distribution of fishing nets and copper made floating pitcher. Speaking on the occasion, more

April 22, 2011
Earth Day observed at Pai
Nawab Shah April 22: Speakers have highlighted the need for environmental education to tackle growing challenges being faced by the earth today. They were speaking at ceremony organized by WWF’s Indus for All Programme to mark Earth Day at Sakrand. Speaking on the occasion, Programme Coordinator WWF Nasir Ali Panhwar said that unsustainable development and life style has affected natural resources. more

April 01, 2011
Inaugurating of landing platform and shrimp pond held at Keti Bunder
Thatta, April 1: Member of National Assembly Dr. Abdul Wahid Soomro has said that social and environmental conditions of Indus delta need much attention of various stakeholders. more

March 31, 2011
12th Meeting of sub-Committee of Indus Eco-region Steering Committee held
The 12th meeting of Sub-Committee of Indus Eco-region Steering Committee [SCIESC] was held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Mushtaque Ali Memon, Secretary Forests and Wildlife Department, Government of Sindh.   more

March 22, 2011
World Forestry Day marked at Pai
Thatta, Speakers have urged the government and non government organizations to invest more on provision of safe drinking water, as five million people die every year due to water borne diseases. They were speaking at seminar to mark world water day held at Jhimpir near Keenjhar Lake. more

March 21, 2011
World Forestry Day marked at Pai
March 21, 2011 A ceremony was held to mark world forestry day at Pai forest. The ceremony was jointly organized by WWF, Sindh Forest Department and District Government Shaheed Benazirabad. Large number of students more

March 17, 2011
Experts at a seminar has stressed the need to promote biological waste water treatment to tackle the looming threat of water crisis and control water pollution.
Nawabshah, March 17: Experts at a seminar has stressed the need to promote biological waste water treatment to tackle the looming threat of water crisis and control water pollution. more

February 5, 2011
Friends of Indus Forum calls for rehabilitation of environment in flood his areas
Dadu March 5, 2011: The Friends of Indus Forum has called for efforts to rehabilitate the naturally protective environment and adapt to the impacts of the changing climate with reforestation and appropriate water management programmes. more

March 3, 2011
First Information centre inaugurated at Chotiari
There is strong need that all segments of civil society play their due part for preserving, conserving and protecting the natural resources and biodiversity of Sindh, which are grappled with different risks because of unchecked environmental degradation and unsustainable use of the natural resources. more

February 7, 2011
Call of measures to counter the disasters and natural calamities
Karachi Feb 7: Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Ms. Christiana Figueres has said that post flood crisis is still continuing in Sindh as millions of people are displaced. more

February 2, 2011
First Information Centre inaugurated at Keenjhar Lake
The Minister Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgari has said that fishermen should exploit fish resources on sustainable basis and awareness raising is imperative for all the stakeholders to protect wetlands.more

December 30, 2010
4th Annual Planning & Networking Meeting held
Hyderabad: Sindh Minister for Power, Ms Shazia Marri has pressed on need for raising awareness among masses about environmental challenges and fast depleting natural resources and sensitizing masses to play their part for mitigating soaring pressures on the all aspects of environment. more

December 25, 2010
Call to revive Riverine Forest after flood urged
Flood has given an opportunity to revive the forest in Sindh and efforts should be made to rehabilitee the lost forest coverage in Sindh. This was expressed by the speakers at a seminar on revival and rehabilitation of Riverine forest after flood. The seminar was organized by Pai Forest Action Network in collaboration with WWF’s Indus for All Programme. Speaking on the occasion prominent environmental writer Badar Abro said that campaign to increase forest coverage in Sindh needs to be initiated on an emergency basis. more

December 15, 2010
Call to promote sustainable use of fish resources
All stakeholders should come forward to promote sustainable use of fish resources. This was stated by the Director General Sindh Fisheries Ghulam Mohammad Mahar at seminar organized by Indus for All Programme, WWF at Keti Bunder. He said that government is making all efforts to discourage use of banned nets, which are having negative impacts on fish resources. He said that fishermen community should voluntarily disband the banned nets and instead should use legal nets, which allows juvenile fish to grow. more

December 9, 2010
Thatta DCO lauds Uplift activities of the Indus for All Programme
A meeting of the district coordination committee was held in Thatta and presided over by DCO Mr. Jaffer Abbasi. The meeting was attended by EDOs of different departments, members of national and local NGOs and representatives of local communities. more

December 7,8, 2010
Keenjhar Festival, Nature Study Camping Held in Thatta
A two day nature study camping was organised by the Indus for All Programme of the World Wide Fund for Nature – Pakistan on December 7 at Chul area near Keenjhar in Thatta to sensitise local communities about environmental and conservation issues highlight among them significance of sustainable use of natural resources. more

November 30, 2010
9th Meeting of Indus Ecoregion Steering Committee held
The ninth meeting of the Indus Ecoregion Steering Committee (IESC) held on November 30, 2010 at the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh. The Additional Chief Secretary, Planning & Development Government of Sindh Mr. Mohammad Ishaque Lashari chaired the meeting. more

November 11, 2010
21 teachers imparted environmental education training in Sanghar
As many as 21 teachers of different government and private schools of Sanghar district were imparted training in environmental education and grassroots comics. Held at the Chotiari Conservation Information Centre on October 26, the three day interactive and intensive training session was organised by the Indus for All Programme of WWF – Pakistan. more

October 26, 2010
Call to protect ecology in flood-affected areas
Hyderabad: Speakers at the ‘Dialogue on Ecological Impacts of Floods’ have underlined urgent need for efforts to rehabilitate and protect the displaced wildlife, reduce severe ecological impacts and promote forest coverage across the province to avert such catastrophic effects of floods in future. more

October 15, 2010
Call to revive Indigo Plant
Speakers have urged the government to help revive indigenous Indigo plant locally called Neer in Sindhi, which is national heritage. The plant was widely used as a source of the blue dye indigo. The use of plant indigo has nearly died out and has been completely replaced by synthetic material. more

October 11, 2010
Indus Ecoregion Media Exposure Visit for Journalists held
A two-day exposure visit for Karachi-based journalists was organised by the Indus for All Programme to sensitise about conservation and environmental issues and depleting natural resources of the Indus Ecoregion and given them exposure to the different interventions for natural resources more

September 22, 2010
Environmental education, grassroots comics training held in Nawabshah
A three-day interactive teachers training ‘Environmental Education and Grassroot Comics as Teaching-Learning Tool’ was arranged by the Pai site office of the Indus for All Programme. more

August 10, 2010
11th meeting of subcommittee of Indus eco region steering committee held
The 11th meeting of Subcommittee of Indus Ecoregion Steering Committee [SIESC] was held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Mushtaque Memon, Secretary Forests and Wildlife Department, Government of Sindh on 10th August 2010 at the committee room of Sindh Forests and Wildlife Department. more

July 28, 2010
Exposure visit of IESC members held
Karachi: The Indus for All Programme organized an exposure visit to Malaysia from July 19-27, 2010. The delegation comprised on Indus Eco-region steering committee (IESC) members. more

June 27 , 2010
Friends of Indus Forum call for environmental flows for Indus delta

Hyderabad June 27: The Friends of Indus Forum has called to declare Indus delta as fifth shareholder of water besides four provinces. In a meeting of forum held here, the forum representatives said that water accord 1991 should be revisited. They said that gaps in national water policy should be addressed prior to its approval. The forum said that a transparent and coherent national water policy should be promulgated as soon as possible. more

June 25 , 2010
Indus for All Programme launches documentary 'Flowing Indus Forever', Study on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Better Management Practices Manuals
Hyderabad, 25 June, 2010: Environmentalists, conservationists, agriculture and wildlife experts and members of civil society organisation have underlined the need for protection and preservation of fast depleting natural resources and rich biodiversity of Sindh, which is faced with multi-faceted risks. more

June 18 , 2010
Keenjhar Conservation Network formed
Thatta, June 18: The area coordination committee of CBOs working in Keenjhar Lake was formed. The purpose was to improve networking among nine CBOs, who are working closely with Indus for All Programme. The committee was named as Keenjhar Conservation Network. more

June 14 , 2010
Chotiari Conservation Forum established by community based organizations
Sanghar June 14: The area coordination committee of CBOs working in Chotiari was formed. The purpose was to improve networking among nine CBOs, who are working closely with Indus for All Programme. The committee was named as Chotiari Conservation Forum. After extensive discussion, the representatives of CBOs elected the office bearers of the forum. more

June 12 , 2010
Relief items distributed in Keti Bunder
Thatta, June 12: The Programme Coordinator Indus for All Programme of WWF Nasir Ali Panhwar has said that due to global warming and climate change recurrence of cyclone has increased and people of coastal areas have become more vulnerable. He was speaking to community of Keti Bunder, while delivering relief items. more

June 05 , 2010
Pai Nature Festival held in Nawabshah to commemorate the World Environment Day 2010
Nawabshah, 05 June 2010: Hundreds of people, including school children, thronged to Pai Nature Festival, organized in District Shaheed Benazirabad, Sindh to mark the World Environment Day-2010. Held in D.C High School, Nawabshah, the event included a mix of informative and entertaining activities, which proved to be useful in educating and sensitising the masses, especially school children on various environmental issues. more

May 25 , 2010
8th Meeting of Indus Ecoregion Steering Committee held
Karachi: The eighth meeting of the Indus Ecoregion Steering Committee (IESC) was held on May 25, 2010 at the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh. The Secretary Forest and Wildlife Mr. Mushtaque Memon presided over the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, he said that water scarcity has affected the province in general and Indus delta in particular. more

May 11 , 2010
Area Coordination Committee of Pai formed
Nawab Shah, May 11 2010: Area Coordination Committee of 14 Community based organization working around Pai forest has been formed. Indus for All Programme of WWF has facilitated local communities living around Pai forest to form community based organizations. more

April 22, 2010
Indus for All Programme marked Earth Day in Keti Bunder
Keti Bunder,   Indus for All Programme of WWF celebrated Earth Day 2010 in Keti Bunder marking its 40th anniversary. In this regard, a host of activities were organised with an aim to raise awareness about the challenges being faced by earth due to irresponsible behaviour of people towards it. more

April 04, 2010
Training on sustainable management of fisheries held
Thatta April 4, 2010: Fishermen can play key role in sustainable management of fisheries. This was stated by the Director, Sindh Fisheries Ghulam Mujtaba Wadhar at the closing ceremony of three day training workshop on sustainable management of fisheries organized by Indus for All Programme, WWF-Pakistan under livelihood development plans implementation at Keenjhar Lake. more

March 29, 2010
Exposure visit for key stakeholder representatives to Sundarbans, Banladesh
The Indus for All Programme organized an exposure visit for a group of six journalists along with a senior officer of the Sindh Forest Department and three Programme staff to Sundarbans Bangladesh during 23 to 29 March 2010.. more

March 27, 2010
Call to restore Manchar Lake
The Friends of Indus Forum has called for restoration of Manchar Lake and has urged the government to establish Manchar Lake Development Authority, a dedicated body. more

March 22, 2010
Government of Sindh Declares Neem as Provincial Tree of Sindh
The Chief Secretary, Government of Sindh through a notification No. SO (C-IV) SGA&CD/4-20/2010 declared Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) as Provincial tree of Sindh. The initiative signifies the efforts and commitment of the Government of Sindh to conserve natural forests of the province. more

Feburary 25, 2010
Need for Participatory Forest Management urged
Badin, The people living in forest areas in Sindh are the poorest of the poor. This was stated by the Chief Conservator Forest Sindh Aijaz Nizamani, while speaking at the seminar organized by Badin Development and Research Organization in collaboration with WWF. more

Feburary 14, 2010
Gift to Mother Earth
WWF's Indus for All Programme and Indus Development Organization planted saplings of various tree species at Railo Mian Forest near Jamshoro as sign of love and affection to earth. more

Feburary 02, 2010
A pledge to revive Keenjhar Lake
Keenjhar Lake, situated in district Thatta of Sindh Province in Pakistan became of the point of concern during this year's World Wetlands Day celebrations in Karachi, took place on 02 February 2010. The flagship event of the celebrations was a consultative workshop on Keenjhar Lake organized jointly by the Indus for All Programme of WWF Pakistan and the Livestock and Fisheries Department, Government of Sindh. more

23 January 2010
Indus River Day marked at Thatta
he Friends of Indus Forum organized rally and seminar to mark the Indus River day at Thatta. The event was attended by writers, intellectuals, fishermen community and civil society organizations. The rally commenced from the Press Club Thatta and culminated at the Indus River. Speaking on the occasion, author of journey of Indus Badar Abro said that Sindh is because of Indus River. more