CDA approves palm cultivation on coast

Sindh govt looks to turn 220 micro-islands of Thatta into 'tourist resorts'

The coastal areas of Sindh offer huge potential to save and earn foreign exchange reserves, and only need to be exploited with a visionary mindset, said advisor to the Sindh Chief Minister on coastal development Murtaza Wahab on Thursday, as the Sindh Coastal Development Authority (CDA) approved the establishment of a palm trees nursery and tissue culture laboratory to further expand palm cultivation and oil extraction on the province's coast.

Wahab was addressing a meeting of the governing body of CDA, which is the apex decision-making body for Sindh's coastal areas.

According to Wahab, Sindh has already successfully developed a pilot project for palm oil cultivation and extraction on 150 acres of land in Kathore, Thatta.

He said 1,500 acres of land in the same area was being acquired from the forest department while another 1,500 acres will be acquired in the near future.

Wahab claimed that through incentives, investors would be attracted to initiate their own projects for palm cultivation and oil extraction and serve local needs for both consumption and industrial use.

The meeting also decided to develop 220 micro-islands of Thatta as tourist resorts, which the participants said would not only offer earning opportunities both locally and in foreign exchange but also create job opportunities for the local populace. The CDA director-general was tasked with preparing a proposal for the islands' development to obtain final approval from the Sindh cabinet and proceed without delay.

Besides, the meeting was briefed about the Thatta coast's palm fruit productive capacity.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2020.