Indus Dolphin Rescue Drive from 15th
KARACHI: A five-day operation for the rescue of the blind Indus dolphin (Platanista minor), one of the world's most threatened species of freshwater dolphin, will begin on Jan. 15, sources in the Sindh Wildlife Department, which will conduct the operation, told Daily Times on Thursday.

23rd November, 2004
Bowling for Conservation: Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar became WWF – Pakistan’s (WWF) first sporting Goodwill Ambassador in a small ceremony at the Ali Auditorium on the 23rd November, 2004.
Press, staff, and WWF members enjoyed a short presentation and cup of tea with the world’s fastest bowler, who is luckily not extinct in Pakistan unlike his less fortunate wild cat equivalent, the Asiatic Cheetah.

28 August, 2004
Save the Turtle Project
WWF-Pakistan in collaboration with ICI Pakistan and City District Government Karachi, Environmental Education Unit organised a beach-cleaning event at the turtle nesting beach in Sandspit to mark the SAVE THE TURTLE PROJECT supported by ICI Pakistan. More than 200 students, teachers, Sandspit community members and representatives of ICI Pakistan, Sindh Wildlife Department and WWF-Pakistan participated in the activity. A total of 147 bags of garbage were collected from a one and half km stretch of Sandspit turtle beach.

14 August, 2004
Beach Cleaning on Independence Day

The Kakapir Girls Community School formally marked its first anniversary on the 57th anniversary of Pakistan, on 14th August, 2004. More than a hundred students, teachers, community members and WWF - Pakistan representatives celebrated this auspicious occasion by joining hands to clean the turtle beach at Sandspit, Karachi….the nesting ground and first nursery of the magnificent Green Turtle.
The beach cleaning activity was followed by a drama staged by the female students of the Kakapir Girls School, in Sindhi language, to highlight the importance of nature conservation.

12 August, 2004
Workshop Organised at Sonmiani

WWF – Pakistan, in collaboration with SDO, SSDCN (local CBOs from Sonmiani) organised a day-long workshop for teachers from Government schools, belonging to the Sonmiani area. Some twenty participants, including teachers, social mobilisers, CBO representatives and WWF – Pakistan field staff at Sonmiani, participated in the workshop, held at the Sonmiani field office. This was the first workshop in a series of four; the workshops will be covering Environmental Education topics from the primary school curriculum.

For further information
Shameer Ali Prasla

4 August, 2004
Snags in Growth of Marine Resources Identified

Experts at a workshop identified factors contributing to the country's failure in achieving the required growth of fisheries. They discussed various aspects of the issue at the consultative workshop on five-year pan for fisheries sector here on Tuesday.

WWF – Pakistan and the Marine Fisheries Department are to join hands together to conserve the marine resources of Pakistan. Both organisations signed MoU on the occasion of the consultative workshop on the Five Year Plan for Fisheries Sub-Sector. Dr. Ejaz Ahmad, Deputy Director General WWF – Pakistan and Commodore S. Q. Raza, Director General Marine Fisheries Dept, Govt. of Pakistan represented their organisations.

3 August, 2004

Consultative Workshop on Five Year Plan for Fisheries Sub-Sector
The Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan (GoP), is developing the next Five Year Plan 2005-2010. In this context, working groups were formed for all the important sectors of the economy in order to prepare a draft plan in their respective sectors for consideration and approval by the GoP. One such group has been formed to cover Livestock, Dairy, Poultry and Fisheries.

The Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan (GoP), is developing the next Five-Years Plan 2005-2010. In this context, working groups were formed for all the important sectors of the economy, in order to prepare a draft plan in their respective sectors for consideration and approval by the GoP. One such group was formed to cover Livestock, Dairy, Poultry and Fisheries.

The Marine turtle nesting season started as the first egg laying process for this season was recorded on 22nd July, 2004 at Sandspit beach, Karachi, by WWF turtle Conservation Officer Mr. Babar Hussain. Mostly Green turtle nest here at Sandspit beach, also known as the “Turtle Beach”

July22, 2004
Grand Ballot Prizes Distributed

WWF – Pakistan’s Karachi Office organised a small prize distribution ceremony for the winners of the Grand Ballot on 22nd July, 2004 at 6:30 in the evening. The winner of the Grand Prize, worth Rs. 100,000/- cash and a cricket bat signed by the South African cricket team, turned out to be Master Saleem, a two and a half year old child. Prizes were also distributed to four other winners.

For further information:
Shameer Ali Prasla
Environmental Education and Communication Officer
WWF – Pakistan
Email: shameerwwf@yahoo.com

July 13, 2004
Globally Significant Areas of Conservation Identified

Environment experts identified the areas having global significance for conservation of nature, on the second day of the workshop on "Indus Delta Ecoregion: Biodiversity, Visioning and Conservation Planning".

July 13, 2004
“Indus Delta Drying Up”

William Reidhead, Conservation Programme Manager of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), said here on Tuesday, that the Indus Delta was drying up due to the inadequate flow of water from the Himalayas and its inefficient use.

July 12, 2004
Workshop on Eco-region Action Program for Indus Delta Eco-region (IDER)

WWF - Pakistan is organising a five days workshop on Biodiversity Visioning and Conservation Planning, for the Indus Delta Eco-region (IDER), which covers the whole of the Sindh province and the adjoining area of Punjab and Balochistan, from July 12th - 16th , 2004. It is important to note that the Indus Delta is placed at the top 40th position in the International Conservation priority list

Integrated and joint efforts are needed for sustainable coastal resource management, was the opinion expressed by various stakeholders at a panel discussion on "Challenges and opportunities for sustainable management of coastal resources", organised by WWF - Pakistan, to mark the World Oceans Day celebrated on 8th June globally

Date: June 5, 2004
Documentary Shown on World Environment Day

A documentary titled "Life Around Mangroves" was shown to the community members of Rehri, Korangi Phitti Creek System, to mark the World Environment Day. Mr. Shameer Ali Prasla from WWF - Pakistan and Mr. Ayub Khaskheli from Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, initiated a dialogue on the role of communities in nature conservation. Some 70 community members, including 30 females, attended the event.

Date: 22th April, 2004
Earth Day Celebrated

WWF Pakistan organised a very informative and useful event on Earth Day. About 40 journalists and writers from leading English, Sindhi and Urdu newspapers and academicians of Karachi and Hyderabad assembled at Keti Bunder to listen to the ordeal of coastal communities. Needless to say, Keti Bunder had never been visited by a group this diverse. Equally unique was the opportunity for the visitors to witness the extent of damage caused by sea intrusion and lt the same time, listen to the coastal communities’ people.

Date: 11th February, 2004
Celebrate Nature with WWF – Pakistan / Blue Band

Welcome to the fun of the Celebrate Nature festivities. With renowned Pakistani singers Jawad Ahmed and Strings performing, and hosted by famous TV artist Marina Khan, this event is an ideal recreation for the family.
Enjoy stalls, games and an interactive forest environment while supporting nature conservation in Pakistan.

12th January, 2004
WWF – P Becomes ISO 14001 Certified

Lahore, Pakistan - WWF – Pakistan, Head Office, Lahore has been certified to ISO 14001, standard for environmental management system by SGS International, for a period of three years with effect from 19th December, 2003 till 18th November, 2006

Lahore, Pakistan: 9th January 2004– Environment has been included as one of the key areas of cooperation adopted under the Islamabad Declaration of the 12th Saarc Summit. WWF - Pakistan has welcomed the support for the protection of the environment by the seven member states by saying that this goodwill gesture will help in ensuring a sustainable process of nature conservation in South Asia.