Environmental and human rights activists on Thursday demanded the government to cancel the MoU between Karachi Electric and Oracle at Port Qasim, abandon the Malir Expressway project and declare Bahria Town as an illegal township. They underlined the need to start a struggle for creating awareness about the dangers of climate change to avert any big environmental disaster. They suggested ending anti-environmental urban projects.
The environmental activists including Ahmad Shabbar (Pakistan Maholiati Tahaffuz Movement); Noreen Fatima (Women Democratic Front); Yasir Darya (Climate Action Center); Samar Abbas (Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network) and Naghma Iqtidar of TKF were speaking at dialogue with Climate March Organizers organized by The Knowledge Forum (TKF) at Karachi Press Club.
They said the environment is the least priority for the government. The government initiates many projects, which are against the environment.
Ahmed Shabbar recalled that the concept of Climate March was conceived in 2019 when volunteers from different countries gathered to forge unity against the effects of climate change. Later in 2021, the activists of Karachi Bacaho Threek and other rights organisations launched their movement against the displacement of the population living along Gujjar Nullah. Ahmed Shabbar shared that though climate march is not the solution to climate issues it is a tool for creating awareness.
Yasir Darya said that rivers are life sustainers, but in Pakistan rivers’ flows are disturbed which creates havoc when water flow increases due to floods. Fishermen communities in Sindh are facing effects of the climate change. He pointed out that organisations like Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum were leading the movement to protect the environment of coastal areas.
Ms. Noreen Fatima said that the rights activists have launched a campaign against the displacement of the Karachi Circular Railway project. We have launched a campaign against environmental threats of Malir Express Way.
Samar Abbas said rights activists had gathered against Bahria town, but instead of accepting their demands, the government registered FIRs against the activists.
