There is a hue and cry that commercialisation of beaches and Indus Delta can have a negative impact on the native culture and environment of Karachi. However, eco-tourism is a sensible alternative and the solution to the problem. Eco-tourism should take a holistic approach, meaning that not only should the fragile natural ecosystem be protected but one should also respect local culture and religious sites. The behaviour of a tourist plays a vital role in ensuring that eco-tourism is

made sustainable...

Karachi is a recreation starved city with negligible leisure facilities that puts an extra burden on the mental and physical well being of its population. However, there is no dearth of serenity, natural beauty, bird watching and blind dolphins in and around Karachi. What takes is just an effort to explore it. The mangroves forest in the Indus Delta and the beaches around Karachi have them all.

Indus Delta is the fifth largest delta in the world. The fan-shaped delta consists of creeks, estuaries, mud flats, sand dunes, mangrove habitat, marshes and sea bays. It shelters 82,669 hectares of mangroves, which comprises 97 percent of the total mangrove area in the country and is said to be the largest coastal mangrove forest in the world. In its goal to conserve the biodiversity of the Earth, the international WWF has recognised over 200 globally unique eco-regions. The magnificent Indus Delta is one of them. A large number of species of birds, (including the threatened Dalmatian pelican) of fish and shrimps, and of dolphins (Plumbeous dolphin, Finless porpoise, and Bottlenose dolphin), humpback whale and reptiles are found here.

It is a pristine tourist spot worth exploring. Mangroves are not just natural habitat but also the perfect breeding sanctuaries of shrimps, crabs and fish. They proved to be a strong physical barrier against Tsunami in the year 2004. It was observed that comparatively loss of life and property was less in the areas that had mangroves. Due to global climatic change and increasing frequency in natural disasters like cyclone, typhoons and hurricane and tsunamis the importance of mangroves is being felt more seriously. So, with this importance also rises the need to support it and eco-tourism is the best way to let them grow.

The term eco-tourism has, in recent years, become a popular slogan used by environmentalists and tour operators the world over. However, what exactly is eco-tourism? In a nutshell, eco-tourism can be defined as environmentally and socially responsible tourism that aims to protect nature through providing the means to do so (awareness raising and financial support) by directly supporting local communities. Other aspects such as the sustainability of local culture and history are also included. Instead of traveling in large groups, consider taking the trip with a small group of like-minded people. This approach can have many benefits from communities being better able to accommodate fewer people, better access to local porters and guides and improved chances of spotting wildlife.

As you leave the shore on a boat for your journey through beautiful maze of water channels you will find herds of camels known as ships of the deserts streaming through the sea water with the same elegance in the creeks from one patch of land to another. These camels remain on these small islands surrounded by seawater for weeks and keep grazing. During this time their owners go after them with supply of sweet water.

In the meandering creeks of this delta, dolphin lovers can come across face to face with dipping and diving sea dolphins. Mudskipper, an amphibian specie is also found splattering in the muddy creek in abundance. It is a fond delicacy in the East Asia countries but not eaten by Pakistanis.

A beautiful wooden pathway is also built over the mangroves that give a person an opportunity to move from one end of the mangroves patch covering area of one kilometer. Without this pathway, it would have been impossible to tread through this thick forest. The other countries that have built this type of pathways in the mangroves are Singapore, Thailand and Japan. IUCN-Pakistan built this walkway after Sir Crispin Tickle, Advisor on Environment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth visited mangroves in 1996 and felt the need of a pathway and recommended to the British High Commission who was very generous in providing the necessary funding.

Furthermore, being situated on the Indus migratory bird flyway, the islands offer unique opportunities to bird watchers during the migratory season. They also house a variety of resident birds that may form a tourist attraction. Flocks of resident birds e.g. wader, egrets, kites, ospreys, kingfishers, herons, sea gulls can be seen both in the morning and evening.

During winter, it provides abode and is also a breeding sanctuary to migratory birds from Central Asia and they stay here for about three months wintering in the subcontinent. One can see flocks of pelicans, flamingos, cranes and cormorants.

These creeks also treasure the archaeological sites, which include Bhambore Island to which a popular folklore of Sassi and Pannu is attributed. It lies on one of the islands amongst these creeks of Indus delta. It also includes 500 - 600 years old ruins of the Ratoo Kot Fort some graves and shrines, are also located here. The fort appears to have been a customhouse and also a forward defensive position against marauding pirates and invaders and is of a size sufficient to control the channel access to Bhambore. These archaeological remains have not been maintained and are deteriorating rapidly.

One might also come across jackals roaming in the woods and would also be surprised that they are also very good swimmers who swim through channels for hunt of fish.

Adventurer Rainer Zietlow with his four member team leading the EcoFuel World Tour has arrived in Karachi on December 9, 2006 and will leave on December 12, 2006 to continue its tour through Europe, Asia, Oceania, South and North America in its attempt to reach a new Guinness World Record. EcoFuel World Tour aims to prove the efficiency of natural gas-powered cars as the team attempts to drive 45,000 kilometres across the world in a Volkswagen Caddy EcoFuel. Co-sponsor Endress+Hauser have joined them in the tour that commenced on October 23, 2006.

Zietlow's team will drive across all five continents by April 2007. Their route will take them through 40 countries and 75 major cities.

"The first drive round the world in a natural gas car is the ultimate endurance test," says Rainer Zietlow. He further added that they want to show how well developed and widely available this technology is. If the project is successful, the EcoFuel World Tour will be honoured with an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. But the team is also driving for a good cause, with 10 cents per kilometre driven being donated to the SOS Children's Village in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The route of the car took it from Cologne to Vienna to Istanbul, Damascus and then Cairo. From Egypt their route took them to Tehran and now Karachi.

Upon its arrival in Karachi for a two-day stay, the car was received by the representatives of its sponsors, Landi Renzo (CNG systems manufacturer) Endress+Hauser and Speedy Automation and local representatives of Volkswagen AG, Master Motor Corporation. Rainer with his team met the local CNG fraternity at a reception hosted by his sponsors. Sindh Minister for Environment, secretary transport, environmentalists and NGOs were also present on the occasion.

This is not Zietlow's first car challenge. In Chile last year, he set a world altitude record for a standard production car by scaling 6,081 meters up 'Ojos del Salado', the highest volcano in the world, in a Volkswagen Touareg. The Volkswagen Caddy EcoFuel with which he is driving around the world now, is also a standard production car. It has a 2.0 litres, four-cylinder engine with 109 bhp (80 kW), optimised to run economically on natural gas. The only modification is nine extra gas tanks mounted in the cargo area (added to the standard four under-floor tanks), to increase the traveling distance between fillings to 2,500 kilometres. 32 gas stations along the route will guarantee sufficient fuel supply. The Caddy EcoFuel has been accompanied by a diesel-powered service vehicle.

Of all fossil fuels, high-energy natural gas releases the lowest level of pollutants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, nitrous oxide and particulate emissions, compared to petrol or diesel. And thanks to generous tax benefits, in many countries the 'green' fuel is also a money-saver.

After a two-day stay in Karachi, the team will take the car to Lahore, and after a few hours stay there, will cross the Wagah border into India and then through the Himalayan range into China. The following legs lead to Bangkok, Singapore and then Australia.

Nando's is not something new in Karachi but definitely the restaurant is a relishing treat for those living in North Nazimabad and all adjacent areas. The chain of eatery has entered the sixth year of successful operations while enjoying a pleasant one-year ride at its last and fourth outlet located in North Nazimabad.

As one enters Nando's, a serene and aesthetically done ambience welcomes the guests at the restaurant, which seems divided into two halves. The left side done with a vibrant red wall, modern furniture and the paintings depicting Karachi's life in vibrant colours take you overwhelmingly. However, the other half, decorated on ethnic lines with muddy finished walls, having cubicles with traditional cane lamps, rustic art pieces, dim light added with a perfect mix of local, English and African music provides a unique African experience.

Yes, Nando's is a tongue tantalising story of moistly grilled Portuguese-style chicken in a number of flavours (peri-peri) that started in the small Johannesburg suburb in South Africa in 1987, by a 27-year old Robert Brozin and his good friend Fernando Duarte, by the name of Chickenland. In 19 years, today, the chain has spread across the globe in 33 countries comprising more than 600 stores.

The recipes are also unique in taste as the flame-grilled chicken served with a variety of flavours ranging from extra hot peri-peri, hot peri-peri, mild peri-peri and lemon and herb. Peri-peri is a chile found in South Africa that is also called the eye bird chile, as it resembles the eyes of an African bird. The African Birdseye chile is both wild and domesticated and is also known in English as African devil chile, in Swahili as pili-pili and in Kamba as ndul. It should be pointed out that pili-pili simply means 'pepper-pepper' and is a generic term for any African chile.

Not only these flavours makes the recipes different but claims Yasir Mithal, manager of the restaurant, "The chickens are the leanest in town and with the flame grilling technique; the chickens lose the rest of their fat during the grilling. The increasingly health conscious consumer is facing the problem of having to choose between the convenience of fast food or the importance of good nutrition, limited cholesterol and saturated fat intake. That's why at Nando's one can find food with a comparably low calorie intake."

Yasir further added that the chicken is marinated for 24 hours in our secret peri-peri recipe and flame-grilled after the customers put the order.

"Our aim is to ensure that the experience at our restaurant is personal and memorable, while we are committed to outstanding service and unequalled performance. A great eating-place is a place where people come to savour the experience, not just the food. And so, at the heart of Nando's is one absolute belief: We don't sell chicken. We sell experiences," said Brand Manager, Samar Fatima Mirza while explaining the special African origin and putting stress on the environment in addition to keeping it up with the taste of the food.

Monavar Ahmad, CEO, Nando's Pakistan said at the celebration ceremony of the Nazimabad's outlet, "Nando's marketing strategy in Pakistan has been quite unique and in tune with our international partner outlets. In order to flourish in each country means embracing its cultures and the best ways to capture these cultures is having an open-minded marketing philosophy."

It was a big news for Karachiites that the International Anti-Corruption Day was also observed in Karachi on December 9, 2006. The same day, a section of newspaper had a headline stating 'Eight armed dacoities in the city'. The apathy is that now people of this city takes the news of dacoities, kidnapping for ransom, mobile and car theft as a normal routine and go ahead with their lives leaving behind the families praying for their safe return.

Millions of people around the world come face-to-face with corruption in their daily lives, and urgently want their governments to take action to stop it. So does Karachiites. However, their long-awaited pleas remain unheard by the government as the physical crime as well as the corruption under the table goes hand-in-hand giving way to corrupt and inefficient people to flourish while others suffer.

The 2006 Barometer, a public opinion survey conducted for Transparency International by Gallup International, looks at the extent of corruption through the eyes of ordinary citizens around the world. It explores the issue of petty bribery in greater depth than ever before, highlighting people's personal experience of bribery, and identifying the sectors most affected by corruption, its frequency, and how much people must pay.

"This worldwide poll shows that corruption has a dramatic effect on the lives of individuals. Its power is enormous," said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International. "When basic services like electricity are denied to the poor because they cannot afford a small bribe, there is no light in the home, no warmth for the children and no escape for the government from its responsibility to take action."

In a scale of 0-5, score of five is most corrupt and zero is the least corrupt. Worldwide most corrupt sectors are political parties (4), Parliament/Legislature (3.7), Business/private sector (3.5) and Police (3.5). Whereas in Pakistan, Police with score of 4.4 is again rated as the most corrupt sector.

Compared to 2005, in Pakistan the corruption has substantially increased in Police Registry & Permit, Business/private sector, NGOs, and Media. "Political will, judicial independence and effective non-discriminatory accountability mechanism for non compliance of procedures including transparent privatisation process are urgently needed to successfully combat corruption," said Syed Adil Gilani Chairman Transparency International Pakistan.