Dec 30-31

Karachi-Islamabad-Murree

 

Meeting on magroves

National Assembly Standing Committee on Environment

Meeting to discuss Mangroves – December 29, 2008

Decisions of Committee under chairmanship of Raja Asad

 

Recommendation:

Constitute a sub-committee on mangroves

• Members: Marvi Memon-PML (chairperson of sub-committee), Palwasha Khan-PPP, Tayyab Hussain-MQM, Yasmeen Rehman (PPP)
• Objective: ‘ensure government implements decisions taken on Indus Delta/ mangrove ecosystem protection along coast of Sindh/Balochistan by sub-committee.’

 

Issues-Recommendations

 

1.       Decrease in mangrove area and cover which was 26,000 sq km and is now 2,600 sq km. Used to be 6^th largest mangrove forest of 92 countries in the world. Now 35^th. Mangroves controlled by 5 agencies along coast of Sindh atleast (KPT/DHA/BOR/PQA/SFD).

Declare Mangrove area protected zone and ensure coordination by SFD and implementation across all areas irrespective of jurisdiction issues. Get rid of wasteland categorization. Declare it marine park. Get EIA of all projects in protected zone like Sugar city etc. Speed up zoning and centralized approach.

 

2.       Decrease in freshwater/ flood water and reduction in silt deposit causing damage to mangroves.

Ensure 10 MAF as per Water Accord 1991 is given to Indus Delta downstream Kotri. IRSA to give committee report on same.

 

3.       Preservation of mangrove wood and by-products which is used by locals for timber, fuel wood, fishing poles, honey, fodder, sea food, grazing.

Assess how much is being decreased annually and provide alternative means of fuel and livelihood to local population. SFD

 

4.       Marine, agriculture, oil, industrial Pollution along Sindh/Balochistan coast causing damage to Indus Delta/mangrove eco system.

Ensure waste coming from industry is pre-treated at source before entering area/sea and increase sewerage treatment plants. Balochistan/Sindh EPA to give committee report on functionality of treatment plants and regulations being followed. Oil pollution entering mangrove to be curtailed by adopting strict monitoring and disaster management policy.

 

5.       Encroachment of mangroves in Kemari town with police acquiescence.

Karachi Nazim to monitor provincial government encroachment so that government can fix this issue.

 

6.       Global warming affecting mangroves

Environmental impact assessment surveys to be carried out on mangrove preservation on regular basis and published. Awareness campaign responsibility by Ministry.Coordination with climate change impact study centre for sea level rise.

 

7. Forest department and local community cooperation to increase to preserve mangroves.

Monthly meeting report to sub-committee on progress of such cooperation.

 

8. Lack of vocational training for fishermen community to protect mangroves and yet use them in renewable way.

Ensure vocational training programs set up for fishermen which protect mangroves from over harvesting and provide them with credit facilities and increase their skills. Increase sea food exports by ensuring renewable usage not otherwise.

 

9. Any other issues to be included pertaining to the preservation of Indus delta eco system/ mangroves along Balochistan and Sindh coast.

 

Dec 28

Mariott islamabad opened today- we will not succomb to terrorism from any direction- be it of internal nature or external nature.

 

Dec 27

Mohtarma’s first death anniversary

I am busy working on mangrove protection plan for next standing committee meeting on environment.

 

Dec 26

Discussions on media on BB’s legacy which has not been honored by PPP govt

 

Today we celebrate Quaid’s birthday and Christmas..

Tolerance for religions and ways of life is so critical.

I woke up to see the papers full of headlines of the line I had added into the resoution. Made my day that it was accepted as the strongest one to be picked up – “india to dismantle terror networks”.

Family trip to a world heritage site- Rohtas Fort. President Musharraf’s legacy since he had developed its preservation plan. Lots more needs to be done. took notes and promised the curator that I would help. The well, the mosque, the fort walls, gates…all such splendid sites of the era of Sher Shah Suri.

Preservation is so important. You can build but you need to preserve too.

Saw stand up comedy at National Library. Youth at its best- honest about the impressions imprinted on them amidst an imperfect socio-political environment. I laughed on the outside. But on the inside I couldnt laugh. When there is a crisis or disappointment at the state of affairs, its difficult to truly laugh. When the initiative is not in your hand its not a comfortable situation. When others are in driving seat of decision making and they are not taking decisions as per your expectations its not easy to sit back and wait for good decision making.

In my speech on the floor and on media I mentioned leadership being Pakistan’s only real issue. there are many issues in the life of a country. But if the core issue is settled, every other issue becomes a piece of cake. In the life of a state the core issue is leadership which takes well timed decisions.

Politics and diplomacy is all about the right signals and the right timing. Those who get it right make it for their state, those who get it wrong loose the opportunity of a lifetime..to make history.

 

Dec 24

Raised the lecturer issue and got minister commitment to resolve- i was successful in creating bloc of Q, N, MQM over this issue. But no success on resolution. Its not easy to get govt to agree to anything good!

Except perhaps the Resolution on Security where State Min ister for Foreign Affairs along with whip and Naveed Qamar took view point and included that. I was surprized that they were so accomodative. State Minister is a decent soul. He added the two lines I gave him which were… “that international community should ensure that India dismantles its terror network and stops spreading regional destablization. Plus I added that we condemn terror attacks in India AND Pakistan. Original draft had not mentioned Pakistan and its victims which was very lopsided. Then Atiya Apa from our party added other similar clauses to tighten language even more. All in all it was a consultative process. But later when I was asked to comment on it I did add my realism that I had been excited about last 14 point resolution which was good but which got violated. this resolution had to be implemented through diplomatic pressure by the world not just Pakistan. This a friend pointed out and i agree.

Despite forward bloc screaming quorum, and them getting priority over my name in queue for speech i managed to make my speech on national security india -Pak. It was more fiery as per some friends in N since I had to withstand immatre screaming in the background.

PJ Mir interview

Office- sorting standing cttee meeting agenda

 

Dec 23

Day 2 with my Josephine started out with usual media analysis in morning at office. Then parliament – she met the Speaker, the Secretary, the whip, lots of famous Senators and MNas. Plus the proceedings had had two interesting items for her. First we did walk out on minority issue with MNA Akram Masih over holidays for Christmas. Second she heard all the rambling speeches on national security which amounted to not much crisp recommendations. We rushed to Dawn news program at Monument on Quaid where I spoke about leadership youth and state, We had to then run to a Women’s event on violence against women which never started on time. Next was personal time with my son shopping. Then dinner for foreign diplomats at home- Next was a trip to see a special mentor. And finally airport.

 

Rabeya will excel in life and I will do my best to be a good mentor to her. I liked her a lot.

 

Dec 22

I had promised in November when I was chief guest at my old school St Joseph’s Convent’s sports days that the top athelite would be my guest in Islamlabad to attend assembly session and get a f lavour of one day in the life of an MNA.  A commitment is a commitment in  life. So I invited Rabiya to fly up to Islamabad. I picked her up from the airport.  I have taken on a life mentor role that I look forward to. She is a bright soul who is very mature for her fifteen years of age. I know she will go places. We arrived at office.

Usual schedule. Newspaper person from Gilgit Baltistan had arrived. Gave statement on delays in resolution of issues. Delegation from Sindh of lecturers arrived to brief me. I sent them to get support of MQM to Dr Farooq Sattar who was most gracious in his support. Trip to shops to get birthday presents for family. news of yet another case launched against me to get rid of me from parliament. dealt with that. Went to have usual morning coffee with Ch Shujaat Hussain. Got briefing on strategy and shared daily happenings.

Rabiya had to see a normal day and I think she was seeing it! Rushed to drop a birthday present for my 70 year old golf partner. arrived back in the office. Discussed lecturers issue with Dr Farooq Sattar. Got ready for protest. Got support of MNA Shehnaz sheikh from PML Q and Tayyab and Nadeem MNAs from MQM, Ayaz Amir from PML N and coordinated their physically standing with me infront of parliament with these lecturers.

Went to parliament which got adjourned abruptly since govt didnt want to hear truth about India Pak failed crisis management. Took Rabiya to Dameneko to show her Isb by night. Had good chit chat about life in general. Went to Samaa TV for talkshow. Enjoyed Shireen mazari’s talk. Came home for dinner party for Pak amabassadors.

I hope Rabeya enjoyed day 1.

 

Dec 21

Trip to Mona with the family. Horsy territory. Good relaxation. Beautiful surroundings.