Political Bigwigs responsible for present heat wave in sindh

Every since I came to understand how the "System" works I surely knew that the land of Pakistan was made only to be enjoyed on ownership basis by politicians, bureaucrats, military men and non- ethical businesses men the rest of the population is mere tenant and yes some of the common man do acquire it on owner ship basis but I takes a life time of one generation to acquire it and only the predeceasing generation can use it however in case there is a medical emergency which need expensive treatment that status shifts back to tenancy and then another generation has to struggle to acquire a home on ownership basis and then the cycle starts again. However the first category of persons I mentioned also did more than land grabbing they are now changing our environment even the recent heat wave is thanks to them. I am posting this news came up on thenews today.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=177845

Saturday, May 16, 2009By Jan KhaskheliKarachi The federal government has taken serious note of the Sindh government awarding large tracts of forest land to political bigwigs, and is considering retrieval of the valuable land, considering the significant role of forests in averting possibilities of floods and disasters.Federal Environment Minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi told journalists on Friday that Sindh authorities have already leased out more than 100,000 acres of forest land to local landlords, which they have de-forested for cultivation in previous years, leaving communities vulnerable to disasters.Afridi was visiting Sitting Shed, which is set up by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme, near the picnic resort Kakapir village, Keamari Town, the minister said that water shortage at downstream Kotri, streaming industrial and urban effluent to the sea, destruction of fresh water bodies and other issues come under the concern of his ministry.Sources told The News that there was 500,000 acres forest land in Sindh, out of which around 100,000 acres have been leased out to landlords by the government while 300,000 acres of land have been occupied illegally.Under the current forest lease policy, people with access to influentials are grabbing forest land for cultivation. There are hardly any areas along the River Indus where scattered groves can be seen; otherwise, there are no forests as the entire area is under cultivation.According to the Agro Forest Policy 2004, farmers belonging to the area are entitled to get 40 acres forest land for a five-year lease. The farmers would have to plant indigenous trees over 10 acres of the land, while they can use 30 acres for cultivation. According to the rule, forest officials have to monitor the activities, and take action if they find any irregularity on the ground. Environmentalists who have kept a close eye over the depleting forests however claim that there is a violation of rules and regulations, and the land is being leased out to influential people based on political considerations. If a landlord gets 40-acres of land on lease, he occupies 160 to 300 acres of land in the vicinity and cleans it for cultivation.Katcha area, along the River Indus, is the natural habitat of major livestock of the province, is now under threat. Hundreds of forest communities, herdsmen, farmers and fishermen have been forced to migrate to other areas, as wide grazing fields, fish ponds and cultivable pieces of land have been grabbed by certain influential families in connivance with local police.Environmentalists link the present heat wave in Sindh to this ecological change as forests have been wiped out and River Indus does not have water to keep the ecosystem intact.The environment minister expressed concern over the decisions made by certain rulers creating environment problems and pledged to take the issues to the provincial authorities.It is the first visit by the federal environment minister to the coastal area, as he wanted to review the situation of mangroves forest, which are under threat due to increasing marine pollution.Earlier, he took a boat ride with UNDP GEF Small Grant Programme officials and the project implementing team to the Sitting Shed and appreciated the efforts to promote ecotourism in the neglected coastal zone.The project implementing team members claim that they are mobilizing community people not to cut mangroves plants. The community people argue that increasing marine pollution is the only cause of destruction of mangroves while camel grazing and cutting plants for fodder and fuel is a traditional phenomenon occurring through centuries.UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme officials Abdul Qadir Rafiq, Masood Lohar and others were also present on the occasion.


I am don’t know when exactly is this situation going to change being a lawyer I am well versed with the situation in Sindh that apart from Karachi sindh is a big jungle of law lessness there are no laws only the might is the law however this has to change as changeisonlyconstant.