PAKISTAN

Water: During the month of March activities around Water rights portfolio picked up high gear and several events were planned and carried out to mark the importance of the international water day and also to highlight the issue at the core of this portfolio at a wider scale.

In this regard Sindhu Bachao Tarla (Save Indus Struggle) in collaboration with ActionAid-Pakistan held a Hunger Strike against Taunsa Barrage Emergency Rehabilitation and Modernization Project (TBERMP) in front of World Bank (WB) office, Islamabad. The 5-day hunger strike, which started during the last week of February, continued till 2^nd March.20 women and men directly affected by TBERMP-induced involuntary displacement, canals closure, land-erosion and water logging held the protest to demand for justice. In their memorandum presented to the WB country head, Mr. John Wall, they demanded an independent inquiry commission to evaluate the social and environmental losses caused by the project. On the concluding day of the hunger strike, they addressed a press conference at Islamabad Press Club, and warned the Bank that if their demands were not met the children and women of the affected communities will hold an indefinite hunger strike in front of the WB.

The International Day of Action against Dams for Rivers, Water, and Life was inspired and mandated by the participants of the First International Meeting of People Affected by Dams that took place in March, 1997 in Curitiba, Brazil. ActionAid-Pakistan in collaboration with SUNGI Development Foundation and Sindh Democratic Forum organized a one-day seminar to mark the international day of action against large dams for rivers, water and life in Hyderabad. The seminar entitled as 'Mega Water Projects': Taking stock to move ahead was attended by a large number of politicians, political workers, water experts, NGO activists, journalists, students, women, lawyers and the representatives communities directly affected by mega water projects. Speakers at the seminar rejected operational control of any water reservoir built on the River Indus and payment of royalty to Sindh province, saying such "official packages" are a vain bid to hoodwink people. They demanded the government to take into account people's apprehensions before launching any new scheme. Furthermore to create awareness among the children about the threats human interventions are posing to the river ecology, ActionAid-Pakistan in collaboration with Shehrsaaz-an Islamabad-based NGO working on the issues of urban development-organized a 'River Art Competition' in Taxila. Scores of school children participated in the competition. The theme of the competition was ‘save the rivers. The children drew sketches and paintings on the theme. Prizes were awarded to the outstanding students.

Just and Democratic Governance: Under the theme of Just and Democratic Governance, ActionAid coordinates and lobby with the larger civil society organizations on all current issues pertaining to democracy and conflict in the country. The act and process of unconstitutional suspension of the Chief Justice of Pakistan has worked as a catalyst in agitating one of the unique most spontaneous civil movements in the country. ActionAid supported and participation in the nation wide protests on this issue

Food: A documentary on Hunger titled "Fakat bhook uga karti hai" was convened and launched by ActionAid .It explores the contradictions of hunger and poverty in an era of global food production and economic independence. The documentary is a journey into this impending world of hunger and famine, an exploration of the deepening crisis in food security in the country. The film revolves around case studies in Sindh. Each case study is narrated by local farmers and women, who tell their own personal story of their family and village.

The fisher folk of the coastal areas of Pakistan are fighting a battle for their survival for the past many decades. The fishing communities, about five million people living in coastal and inland areas of Pakistan are among the poorest and the most deprived people.

Since the degradation of water resources including drying up of river Indus and intrusion of sea water in Indus delta, their life has become miserable. Additionally the fishermen, women and children have to face the occupation of fishing waters by a deep sea trawlers, marine pollution, lack of basic civic facilities and unfavourable government policies. Fishing communities are also vulnerable to natural disasters, such as cyclones, floods and droughts. ActionAid launched a documentary on the struggle of fishing community titled: "Power Beats the Retreat".

Women's Rights: To commemorate International Womens Day, ActionAid mobilized various civil society organizations to participate in torch light march to parliament house on March 8, 2007. The representatives of international organizations, women organizations, students and lawyers participated in the march. The group demanded complete repeal of discriminatory laws such as Hudood Ordinance, Qanoon-e-Shahadat, Qisas and Diyat; ban on parallel judicial systems; ban on anti-women organizations; recognition by the government of the increasing violence against women at public as well as domestic level etc.