Thatta declared poorest district

"District Thatta is vulnerable to a number of natural hazards like riverine and rain floods, cyclones and droughts. Poor people can't afford investment in disaster risk reduction. Thatta District has been declared as one of the poorest district of Pakistan especially its coastal areas are extremely poverty stricken."
This was stated by speakers at consultation session with government officials on prioritisation of sustainable development goals (SDGs). The session was organised by Sindh Community Foundation and Sindh Radiant Organisation in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme-UNDP Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion Nasir Ali Panhwar Executive Director Centre for Environment & Development said that due to number of factors Pakistan could not achieve eight millennium development goals as there was no early consultation with communities and stakeholders. He said now consultation was being held in 24 districts of Sindh province to seek input from the stakeholders on setting priorities regarding 17 SDGs.
He further said that livelihood of the coastal communities of Thatta was vulnerable against hazards like sea intrusion, cyclones, droughts and floods. He pointed out that livelihood and the energy needed of the local community in coastal areas were highly dependent on climate. He said that as a consequence of decreased agricultural activity, local communities were forced to depend on remaining trees and wild shrubs for domestic fuel energy. He said there was extensive degradation of mangrove forests due to multiple factors including reduced release of water below Kotri.
Khuda Bux Behrani said the local government could play vital role in implementing the development programme at local level based on the local realities, adding such planning should be part of the annual development plans and budget processes.
Rehana Ali said SDGs were an ambitious set of 17 goals and 169 targets that were defined and developed through an unprecedented dialogue among UN member states, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders. Noor Mohammad Seria, Siddique Palijo, Sadiq Lakho, Qadir Bux Otho, Rahmatullah Chutto, Ibrahim Hajib, Ghous Pirzado, Dr Qamarudin Baran, Niaz Memon, Qurban Ali, Kiran Memon and others also spoke on the occasion.