BADIN, Sept 13: The United Nations Development Programme under the Global Environment Facility, Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) will spend Rs48 million in coastal talukas of Badin and Thatta districts over the next three years.

This was disclosed by Masood Lohar, National Coordinator of GEF-Small Grants Programme, at a stakeholders’ workshop held here, says a press release.

The workshop was presided over by the district Nazim Badin, Ali Anwar Halepoto, and leading growers and social development professionals, including M. H. Panhwar, Mehr Nausherwani (Shirkatgah), Naseer Memon (LEAD Pakistan), Rafiq Mangi (CARE International), Nasir Panhwar (IUCN) and Akash Ansari.

The district Nazim and the DCO of Badin highlighted the environmental degradation and poverty in the area and appreciated the efforts taken by the UNDP GEF-SGP.

UNDP GEF-SGP has provided five grants this year to five local NGOs in Badin and Thatta amounting to over $250,000 for promotion of saline and drought-resistant crops and fruit cultivation and biodiversity conservation.