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“Island City” (Bundal and Buddo Islands) Project by Bahria
Town will put thousands out of homes and jobs, destroy habitat
and species; WWF raises concerns
World Wide Fund for Nature – Pakistan (WWF – Pakistan) has issued a statement
citing extreme concern with regards to the “Mega Project at Bundal and Buddo
Islands, Karachi” by Bahria Town. The statement is in response to the press
advertisement dated February 27, 2013 inviting the public to comment on the “Island
City” business venture.
WWF – Pakistan has stated that the proposed project area is a part of the Indus Delta
and home to important mangrove forest cover, which is a part of the overall forest cover
of the country. The area is home to 96 species of fish and provides breeding and nursery
grounds for economically important species like shrimp and other shellfish. This diverse
ecosystem also provides habitat for different species of marine turtles, marine dolphin (3
species) and birds (54 species), which are a part of Karachi’s natural heritage.
Director General of WWF – Pakistan, Mr. Ali Hassan Habib adds that both the ill-chosen
sites are a source of income for thousands of fisher folk who have relied on these
islands for generations for their livelihood. Their catch adds a significant amount to the
fishing export business in Karachi and supplies various species of fish and shellfish to
local markets across the country.
Apart from economic benefits, further decreasing mangrove forest cover in the area will
pose a threat to safety of coastal populations in extreme weather conditions. Mangroves
had a major role in saving lives and property in the 2004 tsunami that hit the Indian
Ocean. There are clear and very real benefits of mangroves in protecting Karachi in the
event of a tsunami. Mangrove forests also filter sewerage water of the metropolitan city
and purify the air. The air and water quality of Karachi will further deteriorate without the
mangroves on Bundal and Buddoo Islands. This area has been categorized as a high
priority ecosystem by IUCN.
WWF – Pakistan has invoked the Environmental Protection Act 1997 to demand an
initial Environmental Assessment and then an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
to be conducted before any development takes place. These assessments will look at
the broader environmental risks and suggest environmental management plans to
mitigate the impacts. The EIA process also requires an investigation of possible
alternative sites for the project.
According to Mr. Ali Hassan Habib, “it is ill-advised to advertise that a project will create
new jobs when it will take away the livelihood of thousands of the poorest of fisher folk
working on and around the islands. It will destroy the habitat of hundreds of species of
birds, insects, fish and animals by building luxury houses for one species and will add to
the environmental degradation of the area. Our country needs sustainable development
and this project does not count as that.”
Based on the facts, WWF – Pakistan has requested Bahria Town to reconsider the
location of the project.
The statement and detailed Position Statement was sent to the Bahria Town
Corporate Office. Copies were shared with Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change,
Islamabad; Secretary, Ministry of Ports & Shipping, Islamabad; Director General,
Pakistan Coast Guards, Karachi; Director General, Maritime Security Agency,
Karachi; Commander, Pakistan Navy, Karachi; Chairman, Board of Revenue, Govt
of Sindh, Karachi; Chairman, Port Qasim Authority, Karachi; Chairman, Karachi
Port Trust, Karachi; Chairman, Defense Housing Authority, Karachi; Chairman,
Federal Government Board of Revenue, Islamabad; Chairman, National Disaster
Management Authority; Secretary, Forest and Wildlife Department, Govt of Sindh,
Karachi; Port Qasim Authority; President WWF-Pakistan, Karachi.