Sindh cabinet decides to declare Karoonjhar Hills cultural, heritage site

After a thorough discussion, the Sindh cabinet has decided to protect the entire Karoonjhar Hills in Tharparkar as a cultural and heritage site, the forest and the wildlife sanctuary/Ramsar site, and designated the nearby Khasar as a granite mining area, subject to clearance from the forest & wildlife department.

The cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the CM House on Thursday. It was attended by provincial ministers and advisers, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and other officers concerned.

Later, Senior Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, accompanied by Mines & Mineral Development Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, spoke at a press conference to brief the media on the advisory group’s decisions.

The cabinet was informed that during the caretaker government, a proposal had been initiated to launch the Granite Excavation Project at Nagarparkar. According to the Geological Survey of Pakistan’s (GSP) 2015 report, there is around 14 billion tonnes of granite in Nagarparkar spread over 11 different locations.

However, the mines & mineral development department mentioned that on October 16, 2023, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had banned excavation in Nagarparkar due to the presence of cultural/heritage sites, a forest and a wildlife sanctuary/Ramsar site.

The Sindh government filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, which ordered that any government policy for mining in the Karoonjhar Hills should consider the competing interests of wildlife/forest, environment and heritage.

As a result, the cabinet committee identified the Khasar area, located 25km away from Nagarparkar, where the potential for granite excavation indicated an area of 3.6km2 for mining, as per the 2015 GSP report.

The committee found that the Khasar area has no overlapping with forest areas. Subsequently, the cabinet approved Khasar for granite mining, subject to clearance from the forest & wildlife department.

Housing project

Memon said that decisions were also made regarding the housing project for flood victims. He said people had complained that their names were not included in the list of flood victims.

He pointed out that surveys were conducted by the Pakistan Army, the Rangers and private parties, and the data of the remaining flood victims would also be collected. A total of 2.1 million houses are being built for the flood victims in Sindh, he remarked.

He announced that the master plan for Rani Bagh Hyderabad has been approved. Rani Bagh is being revived under the public-private partnership department of the local government department. He stressed that the government aims to provide recreational facilities for children. The senior provincial minister said that the meeting of the advisory group also approved the recruitment of teachers at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College, Lyari.

Unregistered vehicles

Memon pointed out that previously, if a person bought a car, they would get the vehicle registered within 60 days. Now no unregistered vehicle will be allowed on roads, he stressed. “People used to drive vehicles without registration for years, but this will no longer be allowed. This measure will discourage the use of unregistered vehicles in crime, and increase revenue.”

Sugar export

The minister said the federal government has allowed the export of 150,000 tonnes of sugar. “The cabinet has given conditional approval for the export of sugar, including the quota from Sindh, which is currently under a stay order. As soon as the stay order is lifted, the government will proceed with exporting the sugar.”

He said the cabinet approved the establishment of an Infant & Young Child Board, and the construction of another bridge on Manchhar Lake and the Indus Highway. The construction of these two bridges will cost Rs2.3 billion, he added.

The meeting also decided to secure health insurance for employees of the provincial assembly and secretariat from State Life. Moreover, a campus of IBA Sukkur is being built in Ghotki, which will provide quality education to the locals.

Granite mining

Shah said on the occasion that the issue of mining in Nagarparkar has persisted for a long time. He said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) firmly believes that local development must align with the will of the community. Mining of granite will not proceed without the consent of the locals, he added.

He also said that during the interim government, significant confusion arose when the caretaker minister expressed the intentions to proceed with mining. “I personally conducted a survey in Karoonjhar and raised the matter with the SIFC, where it was deemed a non-feasible plan. The SHC has issued two decisions on this matter.”

He clarified that the interim mines minister had proposed generating significant funds through the export of granite, but this plan had been deemed impractical and opposed by the locals. He pointed out that the Nagarparkar granite mining site has already been designated a cultural heritage site. It is firmly established that there are no plans to permit mining in Karoonjhar, he stressed.

The cabinet has decisively resolved to safeguard this historical heritage, ensuring that both Karoonjhar and Nagarparkar remain completely secured. This decision eliminates any ambiguity in the matter.

Rain preparedness

Replying to a question, Memon made the assurance that all the departments of the provincial government are prepared and operational to manage the challenges posed by the monsoon rains.

In response to another query, Shah, who also holds education portfolio, said textbooks would begin reaching schools on August 1. He said book banks are also being established at schools. He emphasised that he would personally oversee the distribution and transportation of books, warning that any officer who is unable to fulfil these responsibilities would be replaced.

Terrorism threats

Replying to a question, Memon pointed out that the PPP had faced numerous threats during the elections. He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government for “funding madrasas that trained terrorists, and ordering the release of terrorists from jails”.

He stressed that Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif’s allegations against PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are completely baseless. He said that the assassination of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto is a significant example of terrorism against the party.

World heritage site

In response to a query, Shah said that Nagarparkar is soon to be declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, and the SHC has also recommended declaring Karoonjhar a heritage site.

Replying to another question, Memon praised Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab for his efforts in establishing urban forests, saying that Wahab has made significant contributions to the development of urban forests. Moreover, the provincial government’s mangrove project is also noteworthy, he added.

Responding to a query, Shah clarified that Karoonjhar and its surrounding hills have been declared safe, and this report would be submitted to the SC.

No mining activity is currently taking place at Nagarparkar or Karoonjhar, he stressed. Replying to another question, he criticised the caretaker minister for not providing adequate justification for his claims regarding mining reserves.

Memon emphasised the importance of constructing the National Highway and motorway from Sukkur to Hyderabad as he responded to a query. Regarding the narcotics bill, he said the law department is currently reviewing it. When asked about the progress of the Red Line bus rapid transit project, he expressed satisfaction with the swift work and the dedication of the workers, anticipating its completion soon.