One day seminar on Climate Change and Coastal Issues in Sindh was jointly organized by Centre for Coastal and Deltaic Studies, University of Sindh Campus Thatta and Federation Handicap International. Professor Dr Mukhtiar Ahmed Mahar, Director Centre for Coastal and Deltaic Studies, chaired the event on the behalf of Professor Dr Sarfraz Hussain Solangi, Pro Vice Chancellor University of Sindh Campus Thatta, he said that Climate Change is a natural phenomenon which may bring gradual changes to coastal areas, therefore government departments, academia and NGOs and civil society should work together to combat the future challenges of coastal issues and developments and implementation of policies and frameworks for adaptation.
Muhammad Maozam Khan, Technical Advisor WWF-Pakistan and Ex-DG Marine Fisheries Department said climate change should not be used a tool for getting funds and project rather it should be understood as an important issue.
While Muhammad Memon, Project Manager Federation Handicap International, expressed his views that climate change is a global fact and its impacts are inevitable for the world including Pakistan. There is dire need for the state and its department to get all climate change related policies and actions plans implemented. There is need for action research on the subject when it comes to coastal issues including those directly linked with the climate change.
Abdul Qayoom Bhutto Director Tropical Cyclone Centre Meteorological Department speaking on the occasion said, 'Climate change impacts on coastal areas of Sindh are not as huge as the rest of the world in terms of vulnerabilities. "Yet we are exposed to immediate and long-term effects but the most dangerous is sea and seawater intrusion."
Dr Abdul Qayoom Bhutto, Director Tropical Cyclone Centre Karachi spoke at large on the role of meteorological department Pakistan and tropical cyclone centre Karachi in forecast and early warning. Akhtar Hussain Samoo, Deputy Director SEPA said, 'SEPA has prepared Sindh Climate Change Policy that will be launched in 2018. Sindh has notified provincial implementation committee for national climate change policy and action plans that is reviewing the progress for further planning and implementation.
Munir Hussain Abbasi, Deputy Director SEPA, discussed causes and impacts of climate change and related issues in detail. Ajay Kumar Sewani representing the PDMA Rehabilitation Department sharing his views said that PDMA Sindh is planning to conduct multi-hazard risk assessment in 29 districts of Sindh including the coastal districts. PDMA is well prepared and is endeavouring to be more prepared through DDMA to cope with disasters.
PDMA is playing proactive role for inclusive early warning at the grassroots level. It has launched Sindh Resilience Project across the province that focuses DRM including effects of climate change. Rescue 1122 has been launched in Karachi and will be replicated across the province.
In 2018, PDMA Sindh will revise and launch Sindh Disaster Risk Management Plan to cover climate change and its related aspects and launch disaster management information system. Provincial institute of disaster management (PIDM) is being established. In the end of seminar an open discussion between experts and audience was formed strong recommendations for good governess of policies and implementation perspective.
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