Panel discussion at IES, KU: ‘Sindh’s coastal communities are least protected and least connected populations’

A panel discussion at the Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, highlighted the pressing issue of Sindh's coastal communities being the least protected and least connected populations when it comes to climate change and natural disasters. The experts emphasized that these communities face an array of disasters including cyclones, sea erosion, rising seawater levels, and mangrove degradation, which lead to migration and declining livelihoods.

Shabina Faraz, founder of Green Media Initiatives, revealed that 1,361 people in Keti Bandar participated in their Digital Disaster Mapping Survey, with 74.8% identifying sea intrusion as the most significant environmental threat. Cyclones were the hazard that impacted their income the most, reported by 74.4% of households. Over 99% of coastal residents reported experiencing recurring disasters, with most rating the impacts as high or very high.

Afia Salam, a well-known environment expert, expressed the urgency of bridging the gap between academia and civil society in addressing natural disasters. Dr. Farrukh Nawaz, Director of IES at KU, praised the event organizers for their efforts and stressed the importance of digital mapping for disaster preparedness. Dr. Asma Ibrahim, an archaeologist, pointed out that encroachments are threatening historical sites, like the Bhanbhor site, which the government fails to address.

Kashif Ali Sheikh, executive director of Transparency International Pakistan, called for clearer resource allocation to aid coastal communities in times of disaster. The panelists stressed that protecting coastal communities requires collaboration from the government, civil society, and various sectors.