SPEAK UP SERIES

A forum on issues of international importance emerging from Southern Pakistan

Ms. Humaira Rehman, Director of WSI Canada, will be moderating the discussion. Below are the biographies of the Speakers, Mr. Naseer Memon and Mr. Zulfiqar Halepoto, who will be deliberating on two topics of international importance emerging from Southern Pakistan

“Environmental Impacts of Mega Drainage Projects in Sindh”

by Naseer Memon

Writer and Development Professional

Mr. Naseer Memon is a development professional and a writer on environmental and development issues. He has been associated with Non-Governmental sector since last 15 years.  He has worked with leading non-governmental organizations such as UNICEF, UNDP, WWF Pakistan and LEAD Pakistan . He is a regular writer of Daily Dawn and daily Kawish on development issues and has authored a book “Naeen Sindh Jee Golha” (In Search of New Sindh).  He is also Vice Chairperson of the Board of Director of leading civil society organization “Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) and the Member Board of Directors of Indus Resource Centre. He has also been representing civil society organizations on the Provincial Steering Committee of the National Drainage Program. Mr. Memon is a Civil Engineer by qualification and has also lectured in Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro on the subject of Water Resource Management. One of the major environmental web site (http://www.newsline .com.pk/NewsFeb2 007/environmentf eb2007.htm  said following about Mr. Naseer Memon “Experts like Naseer Memon, a development professional and civil engineer who has written extensively on drainage and irrigation …”.

“Governance Crisis in Pakistan”

by Zulfiqar Halepoto

Writer and General Secretary of Sindh Democratic Forum

 Zulfiqar Halepoto is a media professional and water and environmental columnist. Currently, he is Secretary General of ‘Sindh Democratic Forum’ (SDF), which is a leading community and political group mainly representing Sindhi technical experts, professionals and middle class citizens. This Sindh based civil society think tank works on the documentation on the policy issues of Pakistan and lobbies with the diplomatic enclave, legislators, political parties, media, peace and human rights forums and civil society organizations on the conflicting issues of Sindh vis-à-vis Pakistan and their resolutions. Mr. Halepoto is also affiliated with the Forum for Conflict Resolution (FCR), which has published booklets on the politics of large dams in Pakistan and other topics. He is the author and editor of various books and specific focus on the role of International Financial Institutions in Water Sector Development in Pakistan . His articles are frequently published in Pakistan 's leading newspaper DAWN and many Sindhi newspapers. Mr. Halepoto has been instrumental in organizing consultative dialogue session on privatization of water in Pakistan through International Financial Institutions (IFIs) like WB, ADB and other banks. He has worked with various national and international NGOs.

Sindhis of Sindh, in southeastern Pakistan.