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Women and
Sustainable Development
The Women and Sustainable Development (WSD) program is one of
three program areas of Shirkat Gah. The program was initiated in
1992 and was the logical extension of Shirkat Gah’s close
involvement in the National Conservation Strategy (NCS)
development process. Over the years the program has developed
with strong advocacy, networking and publication components and
Shirkat Gah is perceived as a resource centre on women and
environment issues. Field projects under the program have
included research on the domestic use of mangroves in coastal
areas near Karachi; social mobilization for mangrove
rehabilitation and conservation; energy conservation initiatives
in the same area; facilitating the setting up of a women-run
plant nursery in Maliwal (Punjab); training in kitchen-gardening
and social forestry; development of a management plan for the
Lyari River; among others. Shirkat Gah is a member of IUCN and
also the Sindh Secretariat of Pakistan Network for Rivers, Dams,
and People.
Recently, the WSD program has been involved with various
environment related campaigns on water and drought issues, the
construction of the Chotiari Reservoir and related displacement
issue, Deep Sea Fishing policy and its adverse effects on local
fishing communities especially women, the environmental
degradation of Manchar Lake, the issues around the National
Drainage Program and the restoration of the Indus Delta. In the
case of Manchar Lake which is threatened by RBOD discharge and
where the local population was suffering under the
discriminatory fishing contract system the campaign, in
collaboration with the local CBO, Manchar Bachayo Ittehad,
resulted in the abolition of the fishing contract system. The
provincial government instead agreed to issue free licenses to
local fishermen.
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