PDI Director Participates in EIA Training in
Sri Lanka

The campaigns of PDI in different issues including CSR and IFIs have given a global recognition. The organization is the member of a number of Asian and International networks. NGO Network on ADB is one of such Asian network. Recently PDI received an invitation from NGO Network on ADB to participate in an International Intensive EIA Training Programme in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The training was to be conducted from 4th to 13th January, 2008. PDI Director Mr. Sikander Brohi participated in the training.

The Intensive EIA training course was jointly co-ordinated and conducted by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) of the Ministry of Environment, the Centre for Environmental Studies (CES) of the University of Peradeniya, IUCN Sri Lanka, NGO Forum on ADB and Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ).

The overall objective of this course was to provide participants with knowledge and skills in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. (Please see more information in the attached program) The participants were selected from the Asia- Pacific region and Sri Lanka the host country.

According to Sikander Brohi, is was a useful training and a great learning opportunity. He said that he and his organization would use that learning opportunity in Pakistan for improving the positive results and reducing the negative impacts of the development projects in the country.

During the workshops a comprehensive presentation was made on CSR petroleum concession agreement as well as environmental guidelines about oil and gas exploration and production. The presentations were followed by questions and answer sessions in which the question raised by the journalists, were answered.
The journalist showed great interest in the workshops media coverage of the workshops was tremendous as national and regional papers published detailed news and the electronic media also gave coverage to the workshops.

PDI organizes media workshops on Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR)

While continuing the campaign on corporate social responsibilities of oil and gas companies in Sindh, Participatory Development Initiatives organized media workshops on CSR in five district head quarters of Sindh.
These workshops were organized in the press clubs of Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Dadu and Tando Allahyar to ensure that more and more newsmen should participate in the workshop.
PDI establishes sewing centre for indigenous women of drought hit areas of Sasol, Khuzdar
PDI with sponsorship with Oxfam GB established a sewing centre for the women of Sasol this month in district of Khuzdar, Baluchistan.
With about 200 women to be trained by this centre, PDI hopes to give a sustainable source of income providing an alternative livelihood skill.
The centre is established in the heart of Sasol union council to help ensure the access of many women around side.
The sewing centre was inaugurated by a local community Sardar from the UC followed by a small meeting with the trainees who are also residents of Sasol.

PDI-Oxfam supported Communities to Launch Joint Campaign against

Violation of CSR by Oil and Gas Companies

Jati (September 26, 2007) Local communities, their elected representatives, civil society activists and experts have decided to launch campaign against the violation of the standards of Corporation Social Responsibility (CSR) and Petroleum Concession Agreement (PCA) by the oil and gas companies working in Thatta District.
This was decided in an “Awareness and Consultative Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibilities of Oil and Gas Companies” organized by Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) jointly by Oxfam GB on Tuesday in Jati town of District Thatta.
A large number of the, elected representatives, civil society activists, Local Communities, literary persons and local experts participated in the workshop. Those spoke on this occasion included Ishak Soomro Program Officer PDI, Secretary Mehran Welfare Association Ahmed Ajab Jat, Ahsan Nuhario From Agha Khan Foundation, Allah Bux Khoso Pakistan Fisher folk Forum, Mohd Memon Nazim Jati and a number of villagers belonging to different villages close to oil and gas exploration areas

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According to reports, people, particularly children, living close to the oil and gas exploration and production fields in Sindh have been affected by skin diseases caused by the toxic material disposed in the open fields here.
The oil and gas exploration carried out by multinational companies, in Taluka Johi and districts Dadu, Thatta and Badin, use toxic materials during their drilling and exploration process. The disease caused by contamination manifests itself in the form of marks on the feet, fingers, palms, throats and legs...Read More

KARACHI: Serious flaws in studies identified: Kotri Barrage

KARACHI, Sept 5: Environment, water and biodiversity experts and civil society leaders pointing out serious flaws in the draft reports of two downstream Kotri Barrage studies, said that the reports failed to achieve their basic objective of identifying water requirement for the Indus delta region.
KARACHI, July 18: Leaders of various parties on Monday urged the federal government to announce the NFC award at the earliest. Speaking at a national conference on NFC award, they claimed that decision on NFC award by the President would be in violation of Article 160 of the Constitution. In a resolution, the participants said the task of NFC award be left to concerned institutions. The conference was organized by the Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) and Actionaid Pakistan.

KARACHI: Govt urged to announce NFC award without delay

The speakers opposed “unjust distribution” of wealth from divisible pool and demanded of the federal government to only keep 40 per cent of the wealth and dispense the rest among provinces instead of present 62.5: 37 per cent formula. With reference to Sindh, it was demanded that provinces should be given royalty on their natural resources, and development projects under Public Sector Development Programme initiated in all provinces on equitable grounds. They said constitution’s concurrent list be abolished. On tax collection charges by the centre, they said it should be reduced from 5 per cent to 1 per cent or else provinces be given the collection charge.


PDI Seminar on Disaster in Sindh Coastal Region Human catastrophe feared in coastal areas

THATTA: Elected representatives, civil society activists, experts, intellectuals and writers have warned that the coastal region of Sindh is drifting towards a worst human catastrophe, as millions of people of the coastal communities have lost their homes, land and livelihoods due to the continuous disastrous conditions prevailing in the region. They were speaking at a seminar, “Mega Projects and Disaster in Sindh Coastal Region,” organized by the Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) in collaboration with the Actionaid Pakistan at the Thatta press club on Tuesday.

Villagers suffering from skin diseases
Staff Reporter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"WAKE UP!!!" Campaign against honor killing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Join campaign

Violence against women takes a dismaying variety of forms, but the worst form which snatches away the lives of millions of women each year is honor killing.
Each year uncountable women are killed in name of so called honor; they are burnt, sold, exchanged, and handed out to different tribes for compensation for a conflict.
Honor killing is a bitter reality that exists.
Women are stoned, bullet shot, beaten until dead, and attacked by axes, by their brothers, fathers, husband and even cousins.

Honor kiling is a crime from which our eyes are closed, but its time we WOKE UP and fight against this so called honor which is restored by killing of mothers, sisters and doughters.

WAKE UP is a global campaign aimed at mobilizing 5,000 changed agents around the World who will be the strength for these victimes of honor.

WAKE UP invites you to be a part of this Global campaign and be the force for change!!!