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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Climate shifts halve migratory bird numbers in Sindh
Listen to article Pakistan's once-thriving wetlands, long a sanctuary for millions of migratory birds fleeing Siberia's brutal winters, are witnessing a disturbing decline in avian visitors. Experts warn that a mix of prolonged drought, receding water levels, and growing habitat degradation is driving away these seasonal guests – some possibly for good. The southern Sindh province, a traditional favorite for migratory birds, has seen the most drastic decline. According to the Sindh Wildlife Department's 2024-25 waterfowl count, the number of migratory birds fell sharply from 1.2 million in 2023 to 603,900 in 2024 and just 545,000 this year, a staggering drop of over 50% in two years. In 2023, the region experienced an exceptional influx of birds, buoyed by the lingering effects of the catastrophic 2022 floods that, while devastating for communities, temporarily revived Pakistan's lakes, streams, and lagoons. The excessive rainfall had replenished many wetlands, making them ideal resting spots for birds making the 4,500-kilometre (2,800-mile) journey from Siberia to India via the Indus Flyway, with stopovers at various lakes and water reservoirs in Pakistan. However, this year tells a different story. 'Sindh has long been a refuge for migratory birds because of its unique biodiversity and its many lakes, lagoons and other waterways,' Mumtaz Soomro, an official from the Sindh Wildlife Department, told Anadolu. 'But those numbers have seen a gradual decline since 2023 due to receding water levels and droughts.' Soomro explained that the latest survey – covering 40% of Sindh's territory – found notable shortages at key bird habitats, including Manchar, Keenjhar, Hamal and Haleji lakes, Nareri lagoon, and the Rann of Kutch wildlife sanctuary. These sites, some of which are Ramsar-certified wetlands of international importance, have been pivotal stopovers for migratory birds for decades. 'During the survey, our teams reported water shortages at most of the sites, including the marshy Rann of Kutch wildlife sanctuary,' he said. Shadow of past flocks The migration is seasonal, with birds arriving by late August and departing by February. Among the over 50 recorded species were gulls, mallards, plovers, snipes, cormorants, cranes, and storks. The highest number of birds – 112,000 – was spotted at Nareri lagoon, followed by 91,000 at Rann of Kutch. But even these numbers are a shadow of past flocks. Zohaib Ahmed, a Karachi-based ornithologist, said climate change is not the only factor pushing migratory birds away from Pakistan, as man-made habitat degradation, pollution, and illegal hunting also play a significant role. 'Human-induced changes and rampant human interference, often in the name of development, has exposed these fragile ecosystems of wetlands to a string of threats,' Ahmed told Anadolu. He emphasized that if the current trends of environmental neglect persist, Pakistan could lose its status as a preferred stopover for these avian travelers. While the situation is particularly dire in Sindh, other provinces are also feeling the effects. In Punjab, although the latest survey is still underway, officials estimate a similar downward trend. 'The decline is not sudden. It's gradual, and the outcome of climate change, mainly water shortages, seasonal disturbances, and lingering heat spells,' said Mudasser Hasan, deputy chief at the Wildlife Rangers Punjab. Hasan confirmed that the health of Pakistan's wetlands has deteriorated in recent years, largely due to climate-related shifts. 'The arrival of these birds in Pakistan is a seasonal migration, and it has understandably been disturbed because of seasonal disturbances,' he noted. Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries globally most vulnerable to climate change, with experts warning that erratic monsoon patterns, glacial melt, and rising temperatures are placing unprecedented pressure on natural ecosystems, including those vital to bird migration. Despite the alarming trends, some officials argue that threats like poaching and trapping have been brought under control. 'Hunters and poachers are there but they do not pose a major threat to migratory birds. It's climate change that really haunts them,' said Hasan, adding that provincial authorities have tightened anti-wildlife hunting laws in recent years. But not everyone agrees. Ahmed, the ornithologist, contests this assessment, particularly in Sindh: 'At least for Sindh, I can say with surety that there is no drop in hunting and trapping of migratory birds, especially in the Kirthar mountain range and Karachi's coastal belt.' He added that several migratory species are still being openly sold at illegal bird markets, undermining conservation efforts and contributing further to the birds' decline.
India Today
5 days ago
- Business
- India Today
On debt bed, Pakistan to hike defence budget amid India's Operation Sindoor
Despite grappling with a deepening financial crisis that is pushing it at bailout mercies, Pakistan has confirmed that it is preparing to increase its defence spending in the next fiscal year, beginning in July. The increase is likely to be announced as the budget is presented on June 2. This comes even as Pakistan reels from military setbacks from India's Operation Sindoor, and the allocation of more funds to the military comes despite Pakistan's dire economic situation. Only last week, the IMF approved a loan tranche of $1 billion (around Rs 8,500 crore). The country is burdened with over $22 billion in external IMF loan made Pakistan the fourth-largest borrower of the multilateral financial body. Pakistan's Planning Minister, Ahsan Iqbal, on Saturday confirmed that the federal government would raise its defence budget for the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year, citing the recent military escalation with India and New Delhi's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as key factors behind the decision, reported Karachi-based newspaper said there was no pressure from the IMF in shaping or finalising the federal announcement came just weeks after Pakistan's federal government, led by the PML(N), reportedly approved an 18% hike in defence expenditure, raising the allocation to over Rs 2.5 trillion in the upcoming budget. It, too, cited the escalation in tensions with India as a key reason for the defence budget SPENDING RISES EVEN AS PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY BLEEDSadvertisementThe increased defence spending amid economic fragility in Pakistan has always been the subject of reliance on bailouts and foreign aid continues to empower its military establishment, even as critical sectors like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation remain reflects a deeper paradox of elite-driven economic decision-making, where national priorities are often shaped by security concerns over social welfare, according to Soumya Bhowmick, a Fellow at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation (ORF).Pakistani economic journalist Afshan Subohi, in her May 19 column in Dawn, questioned who would bear the cost of the defence hike in a cash-strapped economy. The piece was published after the federal government signalled it would raise the defence budget by 18%."The current tense regional environment likely underpins the government's proposal, endorsed by its largest coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples' Party, to raise the defence budget by 18 per cent for the next fiscal year. The critical question for a resource-constrained country, however, remains: who will pay for it?" asked in June 2024, Pakistan's defence forces got a nearly 17.6% budgetary hike, amounting to Rs 2.12 trillion (PKR)."Pakistan's tax revenues are relatively modest, but its defense spending is massive, largely because the military is the country's de facto ruler. A bankrupt Pakistan is already receiving one IMF bailout and is seeking another, yet it unveils a 17.6% rise in its big defence budget," geostrategist and academic Brahma Chellaney wrote on X in June PAKISTAN TO HIKE DEFENCE SPENDING AMID TENSIONS WITH INDIAadvertisementIslamabad's announcement of an increase in its defence budget follows India's Operation Sindoor, in which Indian forces targeted terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), after the April 22 Pahalgam Sindoor successfully destroyed nine terrorist camps linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets like Yusuf Azhar and Abdul Rauf advanced airpower, with precision strikes in a 25-minute operation, exposed gaps in Pakistan's air defence targeting of military and civilian areas made Indian armed forces retaliate by striking key military installations in Pakistan and cripple its air Pakistan's drone and missile attacks on Indian civilian and military infrastructure, Indian air defence systems effectively neutralised Pakistani strikes. Moreover, Indian forces hit key military infrastructure, like airbases at Noor Khan and Rahimyar Khan, where its technological superiority and strategic restraint were on heightened military tensions in the lead-up to India's Operation Sindoor, Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported in early May that the government was weighing additional hikes to the proposed defence budget to counter "Indian aggression" and boost investment in indigenous research and in response, raised concerns about Pakistan's fiscal priorities, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri urging the IMF to reconsider its bailout packages due to the potential misuse of funds for military SPENDING BAILOUT MONEY ON DEFENCE AMID CASH CRUNCHPakistan's reliance on IMF bailouts, 25 loans since 1950, including four in the last five years, reveals its chronic economic instability. Pakistan's loans from the IMF alone stood at $6.2 billion as of March 31, 2025, according to the despite this cash crunch, Pakistan's civilian regime, whose reins lie in the hands of the military, is prioritising defence spending, which already accounts for nearly 18% of the federal the IMF warned that tensions with India could jeopardise Pakistan's fiscal and reform goals, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb claimed that the recent escalation with India would have "minimal fiscal impact" and could be accommodated within the current fiscal choosing to prioritise defence spending amid economic freefall, Pakistan is once again leaning into its military-first doctrine, despite the long-term risks to its economic recovery and human Watch
Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Ceasefire brings no relief for exporters
Listen to article Nearly two weeks after Pakistan and India agreed to a fragile ceasefire, the Pakistani business community, particularly exporters, remains gripped by anxiety. With no clear timeline for peace talks between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, fears of renewed tensions loom large. "War-like situations are disastrous for countries like Pakistan," said Ijaz Khokhar, a textile exporter from Sia PHOTO: REUTERS lkot. "Uncertainty is our biggest enemy right now. Export shipments are stuck, buyers are nervous, and every day without clarity costs us millions." The ceasefire, brokered after four days of intense border clashes, has done little to ease the strain on exporters. Even before the conflict, they were grappling with the aftermath of Trump-era tariffs. International buyers had initially cancelled orders when the US imposed tariffs on Pakistani goods, only to rush back after a 90-day pause was announced. "Now, buyers want us to absorb half the tariff costs," Khokhar explained. "But our profit margins are already razor-thin. How can we survive like this?" Compounding these challenges, a recent protest by Sindhi nationalists on the Indus Highway over water disputes brought logistics to a standstill. "Trucks carrying export goods were stranded for days," Khokhar said. "We are racing against the clock to clear pending shipments before the US tariff pause expires. Delays could mean losing buyers permanently." Misinformation during the conflict further rattled global clients. Fake news spread by Indian media claiming Karachi Port had been destroyed caused panic. "International buyers froze new orders overnight," said Nazir Saeed, a Karachi-based exporter. "They don't want their supply chains disrupted. Restoring their confidence will take months, if not years." While US President Donald Trump recently expressed interest in boosting trade with Pakistan, exporters remain skeptical. "Trade deals depend on private-sector partnerships, not government announcements," Saeed noted. "We already work with American buyers. Unless Pakistan diversifies its exports, like investing in value-added textiles or tech products, Trump's words won't translate into real growth." Pakistan's economic fragility adds to the gloom. Despite the military's bolstered image post-conflict, the economy continues to wobble. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects GDP growth at just 2.6% for the year 2025, far below the 5% needed to curb rising unemployment. A recent $3 billion IMF bailout has come with harsh conditions like tax hikes, energy subsidy cuts, and currency devaluation. "The IMF loan stabilised the rupee temporarily, but inflation is still at 28%," said economist Ayesha Malik. "Businesses are drowning in high input costs and low demand. Without structural reforms, recovery will remain elusive." For exporters, the stakes are existential. Textiles, which account for 60% of Pakistan's exports, face fierce regional competition from Bangladesh and Vietnam. "Global buyers demand sustainability and innovation," said business analyst Farhan Ahmed. "Pakistani firms lack the technology and financing to upgrade. Meanwhile, India and Bangladesh offer cheaper labour and better incentives." Ahmed warns that reliance on traditional exports like raw cotton and leather could backfire. "The world is shifting toward value-added goods. If Pakistan doesn't adapt, its share in the US and European markets will keep shrinking." However, despite the bleak outlook, some see a silver lining. The ceasefire, though precarious, offers a window for diplomacy. "Peace talks could revive regional trade, especially with India," Malik said. "A reopened India-Pakistan trade route would cut costs and boost exports for both sides." However, with elections approaching in India and political instability in Pakistan, few expect breakthroughs soon. For now, exporters are left navigating a storm of uncertainty. "We are tired of crises, tariffs, wars, protests," Saeed said. Pakistan's economy won't strengthen until leaders prioritise stability over short-term wins. "Peace won't fix our economy unless we innovate. Global buyers need value, not excuses. Without upgrading, Pakistan will keep losing ground," he added.
Nikkei Asia
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
The art of survival: Iran's uneasy dance with the US
Imran Khalid is a Karachi-based geostrategic analyst and freelance writer. The unthinkable is unfolding in the heart of Iran's political labyrinth: Tehran and Washington are not just talking, they're listening to each other
India Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Sindh turns battlefield over Pak Army's Indus canals, 2 shot dead
The agitation in Pakistan's Sindh province against the controversial, army-backed canal project on the Indus River System has gained fresh momentum. Two activists were shot dead on Tuesday as protests intensified after having subsided last month following the shelving of the project. Blaming Punjab's domination for their water woes, Sindh protesters attacked the house of a minister belonging to the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).advertisementSindh and Punjab are two of Pakistan's four provinces. Inhabitants of Sindh have held Punjab, which is the power centre of both the civilian and military establishments, responsible for putting it lower on the priority protests and police action turned northern Sindh into a "virtual battlefield", Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairperson of the PPP, came in for sharp criticism for its shaky stance on the canal protests from Sindhi nationalist party Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM). The Sindh-based PPP is part of Shahbaz Sharif's ruling coalition in Islamabad and holds power in Chairperson Shafi Burfat accused Pakistan's military establishment of using an "immature, power-hungry, and unserious" Bilawal to advance its own geopolitical objectives and suppress the canal NORTHERN SINDH TURNED INTO A BATTLEFIELDTensions escalated on Tuesday after Zahid Laghari, an activist of the Sindhi nationalist party Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), was shot dead by police. In response, protests turned violent in Naushahro Feroze district of northern Sindh, turning it into a "virtual battlefield".advertisementDemonstrators blocked a national highway and set a couple of oil tankers on unrest in Sindh intensified further as protesters stormed the residence of Sindh's Interior Minister, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar. They vandalised the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader's house and set parts of it, including the drawing room, on from JSMM activist Laghari, another unnamed protester died as a result of indiscriminate police firing, reported the Karachi-based The News than 15 protesters were injured, at least five of them critically, after police opened fire on protesters in Moro town of Naushahro Feroze district, according to the Karachi-based independent media outlet The Rise had died out after the federal government claimed to have shelved the Indus canals project, but the protesters never left the agitation sites, alleging that construction activities continued secretly. Many also saw the shelving as a tactical move by the army-led regime to defuse backlash without actually abandoning the aggressive protests began on May 19, marked by mostly affiliated with the Sindh Saba Party led by Ashfaq Malik, blocked the Moro bypass road to protest against corporate farming and the proposed construction of canals, reported Dawn, a Karachi-based with rods and sticks, protesters chanted slogans as police tried to disperse situation escalated quickly, with police resorting to baton charges and aerial firing. Over a dozen people, including a DSP and six police officers, were injured in the chaos and a police van was were shut down and roads were deserted as the area turned into a "virtual battlefield", noted the Dawn report. In response, policemen from multiple districts of northern Sindh were deployed to restore from the protests in Moro, similar demonstrations erupted in nearby towns, including Kandiaro and Faiz Ganj, reported Samaa a similar protest planned in Hyderabad was thwarted by police, who cordoned off the area and detained two Sindh Saba activists, according to Dawn.$3.3-BILLION ARMY-BACKED CANAL PLAN DREW SINDH IREThe $3.3-billion canal project, officially known as the Green Pakistan Initiative, was launched in February 2025 by Army Chief Asim Munir and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. They said the project in the Indus River system would irrigate millions of acres of previously uncultivable land in Punjab and parts of including the military and Shahbaz Sharif's federal government, touted it as a solution to Pakistan's food security the project sparked outrage in Sindh in April, where it was perceived as a move to divert water from the Indus River, critical to the province's agriculture and including Sindhi nationalists, argued that the canals would primarily benefit Punjab's feudal landlords and corporate farming interests, exacerbating water scarcity in project also revived the long-standing provincial rivalry between Sindh and Punjab. The unrest was compounded by India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pakistani deep-state-sponsored Pahalgam attack, which heightened fears of water shortages in already-parched hybrid Islamabad-Rawalpindi regime faced widespread opposition from Sindh's political parties, nationalist groups, and civil weeks of protests in April, including highway blockades that disrupted transport to Karachi Port, the Pakistani government announced on April 24, 2025, that the project would be shelved until a consensus could be reached at the Council of Common Interests (CCI) this, protests continued, demanding a permanent cancellation of the several prominent voices, including Sindhi writer-activist Ustad Rahi Soomro, alleged that despite official claims of halting the canal project, work on it had quietly continued."The canal project has not stopped. With modern machinery, work is going on. The project has added three more canals to six controversial canals, making them nine," said Soomro on May AND BILAWAL BHUTTO FACE BACKLASH OVER INDUS CANALS PROJECTBilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairperson of the Sindh-based PPP and son of Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, has come under fire for his and his party's stance on the canal project, as well as for consistently "failing to represent the genuine interests of Sindh and its people".Bilawal had initially endorsed the army-backed canal project, describing it as "vital" for Pakistan's interests. However, as public outrage grew, he shifted his position and criticised the federal government's handling of the issue, saying, "The people of Sindh have rejected the canal projects, yet those in Islamabad remain blind and deaf to our voices".After the project was "shelved" by the federal government, Bilawal also played the India card, saying, "India's announcement on the Indus Waters Treaty was not illegal, but against humanity... As long as the PPP exists, not a single drop of Sindh's water will be given away".Bilawal tried to use the India card and New Delhi's move to the IWT, where his stance remained shaky stance did not shield him from fierce criticism from the chief of JSMM, whose activist was killed by police firing on Burfat, the chairman of the Sindhi nationalist party JSMM, accused Bilawal of being a pawn of the "Punjabi military establishment".He further labelled Bilawal as "immature, power-hungry, and unserious", accusing the PPP of abandoning Sindh's interests to serve Punjab's feudal elite rather than standing up for Sindhi rights or also alleged that the military was manipulating Bilawal to spearhead Rawalpindi's objectives, including its anti-India campaign, promising him political power in the Indus canal protests have exposed fault lines in Pakistan's federal structure, Sindh's resentment against the Punjab-dominated establishment has now reached a boiling point. Even as Islamabad tries to fire-fight, the continued unrest signals that trust has eroded far beyond InMust Watch
