Sindh stakes fresh claim to islands

While the federal government has already staked a claim to the Budoo and Bundal Islands, the Sindh government has also stepped into the ring once again and claimed the land as its own. As expected, disagreements between the federal and Sindh governments have taken a fresh twist.

On the orders of the court, officials of the Sindh Forest Department sent a summary to the Sindh Chief Minister, requesting him to issue a new notification. The department's summary, written by the provincial forests secretary, stated that the islands were the property of Sindh.

On the other hand, the federal government had issued the Pakistan Islands Development Authority Ordinance 2020 for the construction of new cities by declaring these islands as its property. The Sindh government has declared these islands as its property from day one.

The Sindh Assembly had also passed a resolution regarding the islands and declared its ownership in talks with the federation, but the dialogue could not reach a meaningful conclusion.

According to details, a summary has been sent to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah by Sindh Forest Secretary Badar Jamil Mendhro on the orders of the Sindh High Court. It asked the CM to issue a fresh notification to stake a claim to the ownership of Bundal and Budoo Islands.

According to the summary, the Sindh government has the right to the islands so the government should issue a notification after the approval of the provincial cabinet. "Both islands are owned by the Sindh Forest Department."

The summary states that the islands were declared protective forests under the 1958 Islands Act. "Neither Ports and Shipping, nor the federation has any right to the two islands. Both islands are part of the Indus Delta," the summary declared

It also recommended to the CM to re-notify the Conservation Forests Act, 1958, according to which the entire coastal strip is mentioned in the law.

The summary sent to the Shah also mentioned the issuance of the Pakistan Island Development Authority Ordinance 2020 by the federation to establish new cities on the islands.

According to the summary, through the ordinance, the federation announced developing Budoo and Bundal islands for commercial and residential purposes. The move was met with opposition by established social organisations working on environment issues. The ordinance was also opposed by social activists who went to court. The court also declared the two islands as protected forests. The names of the two islands are not clear in the old notification. The forest secretary, in his summary, has requested approval of the notification, on court orders, in which the names of the two islands should be clearly stated and declared as the property of his department.

It should be noted that the notification on Bundal and Budoo Islands is likely to be approved in the next meeting of the Sindh Cabinet. Subsequently, the forests secretary will present the new notification in the Sindh High Court.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2022.