KARACHI: In a first, the wildlife department in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province on Wednesday conducted a population survey of house sparrows in the port city of Karachi, saying the results would be compiled using standard scientific methods.
Recent media reports have highlighted the danger of a declining sparrow population in Karachi, other Pakistani cities and neighboring India, with concerns primarily raised by ornithologists. The purported decline is attributed to factors like urbanization, loss of natural habitats, pollution and pesticide use in agriculture, which reduce their food supply and nesting sites. The global community also observes International Sparrow Day on March 20 to highlight the threats to house sparrows and other common birds.
Speaking to Arab News, Javed Mahar, head of the Sindh Wildlife Department, mentioned the claim of a declining sparrow population was made without a prior baseline, prompting him to organize a unique bird count in Karachi last Sunday with 121 photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. Covering five percent of the bustling metropolis, the team recorded 9,035 house sparrows. Mahar explained this ratio would be used to estimate the sparrow population in the remaining 95 percent of the city.
“Frequently, news in the media would state that the number of sparrows has decreased or they are faced with dangers,” Mahar said in a conversation with Arab News. “Different things would be discussed, but in reality, no survey had been conducted, there was no baseline present.”
He said the survey conducted in the city would be analyzed scientifically to project the sparrow’s total population in Karachi.
The activity, he continued, was not merely aimed at counting the population of sparrows but also at raising awareness about the dangers the birds have been facing.
“One of the biggest dangers posed to their population is none other than our human conduct,” he said. “We need to strengthen their nesting sites in our homes and provide them with assistance.”
Mahar acknowledged the possibility of survey errors, pointing out it was the first time such bird count had been done. However, he noted the methodology being followed was “standard” and used elsewhere as well to carry out such studies.
Mahera Omar, a wildlife campaigner and one of the volunteers who participated in the exercise, said the counting was an “interesting experience.”
“This was about a bird that every citizen watches daily,” she added.
In a first, Pakistan’s Sindh conducts baseline survey of house sparrows in Karachi
https://arab.news/v9rmm
In a first, Pakistan’s Sindh conducts baseline survey of house sparrows in Karachi
- The survey was conducted in five percent of the city’s total area ahead of International Sparrow Day on March 20
- The study involved 121 photographers and wildlife enthusiasts who recorded 9,035 sparrows in the designated area
Pakistan says it is moving toward phased crypto regulation after Binance, HTX approvals
- The country is among the world’s largest crypto adoption markets, with nearly 40 million users
- Bilal bin Saqib says the government is not promoting crypto but moving to regulate the sector
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top virtual asset regulatory official said on Sunday the country was laying the foundation for a phased and tightly supervised crypto framework after granting conditional approvals to two global exchanges, signaling a shift from years of regulatory ambiguity toward formal oversight of digital assets.
The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) said this week it had issued no objection certificates (NOCs) to global crypto exchanges Binance and Huobi (HTX). Pakistan has also signed a memorandum of understanding with them to explore what the finance ministry described as the “tokenization” of up to $2 billion in sovereign bonds, treasury bills and commodity reserves, an initiative aimed at boosting liquidity and attracting investors.
“The no objection certificate given to Binance and Huobi is the first practical step of this new thinking,” PVARA chief Bilal bin Saqib said at a briefing. “Let me make it clear that this NOC is not a shortcut. This is not a blanket approval.”
He said the approvals marked the start of a risk-mitigated, phased and supervised entry framework, adding that platforms would be subject to strict anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements, ownership transparency checks and enforcement-linked licensing timelines.
“This is not a new experiment,” he said, pointing to phased regulatory approaches adopted in financial centers such as Dubai, the United Kingdom and Singapore, where firms are first brought under supervision before being allowed to expand operations.
Pakistan is among the world’s largest crypto adoption markets, with estimates putting the number of users between 30 and 40 million, despite the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework. Saqib said ignoring the sector was no longer viable, warning that unregulated adoption posed greater risks to the economy and consumers.
“We don’t want to promote crypto,” he said. “We want to regulate crypto. Adoption is already there.”
He said the framework was designed to prepare Pakistan for longer-term developments in digital finance, including tokenized assets, compliance technology, blockchain analytics and digital payment infrastructure, while ensuring that local talent is channeled into regulated and productive use.
“For the international community, the message is clear,” Saqib said. “Pakistan is not running away from innovation. Pakistan is welcoming innovation. Pakistan is regulating innovation.”
