Thar Food Forest, Thar Agro Research Farm, Umarkot (2026)

10/02/2026

Yesterday, Pakistan hosted the 4th Pakistan Climate Conference, organized by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI) with support from international stakeholders including business leaders, development partners and climate experts. The event brought critical focus on climate challenges facing Pakistan and actionable solutions to drive sustainable, climate resilient growth.

Key takeaways:

(1)Pakistan loses nearly 1% of its GDP every year due to climate related impacts such as floods, heatwaves and infrastructure losses despite contributing 1% to global emissions.

(2) The government highlighted updated climate commitments, including a target to reduce emissions by 50% by 2035 under Pakistan's NDC 3.0.

(3)Mobilizing sustainable grant based climate finance was emphasized as a priority, with strong calls for bankable climate action pipelines.

(4)Experts underlined the need for blended finance, risk sharing mechanisms, and private sector participation to accelerate climate investments.

(5) Discussions also covered modernization of the power grid, renewable energy acceleration, forest's, coastal and blue economy resilience, and leveraging Al for climate forecasting and disaster planning.

The conference concluded with the OICCI Climate Excellence Awards, recognizing organizations driving climate stewardship and innovation across areas like renewable energy, water management, circular economy, biodiversity support and sustainable finance. This conference reaffirmed that climate resilience must now be central to Pakistan's economic planning, investment strategy and public private collaboration, and that collective action from policymakers to businesses is essential to safeguard our future.

05/02/2026

Looking forward to engaging discussions at the 4th Pakistan Climate Conference 2026, focused on turning climate commitments into real, on-ground impact.

01/02/2026

Forests and water are directly connected.
This is not a personal opinion, but a scientifically established global fact.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
a major share of the world’s usable freshwater comes from areas where forests exist.
Forests slow down rainwater runoff and allow water to absorb into the soil instead of flowing away.
Research by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) shows that
forests strengthen soil structure, reduce erosion, and help maintain groundwater levels.
Because of this, forests not only influence the quantity of water but also improve its quality.
According to the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Economic Forum (WEF),
many major cities around the world depend on nearby forested watersheds for their drinking water supply.
This clearly proves that forests function as natural water-management systems.
When forests are removed,
rain does not stop falling but water stops staying.
This is one of the key reasons why water problems are increasing even in regions that receive rainfall.
In dry regions like Thar,
native trees are not a luxury.
They are a survival system for water, people, and wildlife.
Without forest protection,
water solutions remain incomplete.

23/01/2026

World Forests in the 2026 Context (Research-Based)
Forests remain one of the planet’s most critical climate stabilizers, yet today they are under greater pressure than ever before.
What does the data tell us?
Globally, forests cover around 30% of the Earth’s land area, but every year millions of hectares are lost due to deforestation, intensifying climate instability and environmental risks.
Current global situation:
In Brazil, deforestation in the Amazon has slowed in recent years, yet thousands of square kilometers of forest were still lost during 2024–2025 due to fires, drought, agriculture, and logging.
The Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest, continues to face severe forest loss. In 2024, it recorded one of the highest levels of primary forest destruction, threatening biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Why forests matter:
Forests play a vital role in:
Absorbing carbon and mitigating climate change
Regulating rainfall and water cycles
Protecting soil and biodiversity
Supporting millions of people through livelihoods, food, and ecosystem services
Despite strong environmental laws in many countries, illegal logging, unplanned agricultural expansion, climate-induced fires, and corporate land use continue to drive forest loss.
🌏 The global challenge:
While governments and global institutions have pledged to end deforestation by 2030, current trends show that the world is not yet on track to meet these commitments.

08/01/2026

Thar is currently suffering on many fronts. On one side, people have been sitting on a continuous hunger strike for more than a month to save Karoonjhar from being cut, yet not even a single councillor from the ruling party has visited them or shown any concern.

On the other side, brutal hunting of deer is taking place every day in the Thar region. Local residents stay awake all night, guarding the area with torches, but during the same time influential local feudal lords arrive in large vehicles and arrange hunts. Outsiders are entertained with hunted deer, and in return, favors are extracted from them. Political leaders of Tharparkar even protect these feudal lords from having FIRs registered against them.

When villagers place the bodies of hunted deer and injured animals on the roads and protest against the hunters by blocking roads, they are merely given false assurances and dispersed. The villagers protest again the next day, but the system remains completely unmoved.

On a third front, hunting guests are busy killing migratory birds. Why is Thar being subjected to such extreme injustice and oppression? Why is every voice of the local people being ignored? Karoonjhar and Tharparker are in continuous suffering. Who will finally free Thar from this torment?

05/01/2026

“Native Alone Is Not Enough”

“Use native species.”

This phrase is repeated so often that it has stopped being questioned.

Once a project mentions native plants, everyone feels satisfied.
Approvals come easily.
Photos are taken.
The work is declared complete.

But people who actually spend time on the land know a different reality.

Many native plantations do not fail immediately.
They decline slowly.

Growth slows down.
Plants weaken and fall sick.
Empty patches appear.
After a year or two, replanting becomes routine.

This happens because “native” has become a substitute for real thinking.

A plant may be native to a country but unsuitable for a specific site.
It may be native yet incompatible with the soil.
It may be native and still fail because it came from the wrong location or was poorly raised in a nursery.

Repeating the same few fast-growing native species again and again is not restoration.
It is simply repetition.

If planting native species alone was enough, we would not see the same problems recurring across projects.

The uncomfortable truth is this:

We often focus more on appearing green than on functioning ecologically.

True restoration is slower and more demanding.
It raises questions that do not fit neatly into reports:

What can this land actually support?

How does water move across this site?

Is the soil alive, or merely leveled and filled?

Which species belong here now, and which should come later?

Planting trees is easy.
Understanding land is difficult.

So no native alone is not enough.

Until we stop treating it as the final answer, we will continue creating plantations that look successful on paper and quietly fail on the ground.

If you have worked on land long enough, you have seen this happen.

What has your experience ?

12/12/2025

Where every sunrise feels closer to nature, and every moment whispers calm welcome to Thar Food Forest

09/12/2025

🌧️💧

16/09/2025

The Beautiful Transformation of Thar Desert After the Rains🌧️💧🏜️🌳🦜🦌🌻🦚🪺🕊️

Thar, often known as a dry and harsh desert, transforms into a breathtaking landscape after the rains. The arrival of monsoon showers brings life, greenery, and hope to the people, animals, and land of this region. Where once there were dry sand dunes and barren fields, now you can see lush pastures, flowing streams of rainwater, and crops standing tall with fresh energy.
The beauty of Thar after rain is unmatched. Greenery spreads across the land, trees regain their strength, and farmers begin to cultivate their fields with new enthusiasm. The crops of millet, guar, and other seasonal plants start growing, providing food and fodder for both humans and livestock. Goats, sheep, and cows graze happily in the fresh pastures, while the people of Thar celebrate this blessing with gratitude.
For the local community, rain is not just water it is life itself. It means survival, harvest, milk from livestock, and an opportunity to store resources for the dry months ahead. Families come together to plant, to nurture, and to enjoy the cool breeze that follows the rainfall.

Tourists and visitors also find Thar incredibly charming during this season. The rolling green hills, scattered mud huts, and winding paths covered with trees present a scene of natural beauty that feels almost magical. The desert, which many think of as lifeless, shows its hidden charm and strength.

The rains of Thar remind us of the deep connection between nature and survival. They bring relief, joy, and opportunities for growth. Truly, the post rain scenery of Thar is a living example of how nature can turn even the driest land into a paradise of hope and beauty.

11/08/2025

🌾 Rain Shortage in Tharparkar A Picture of Reality 🌾🏜️🌧️💧

Tharparkar is currently facing a challenging weather situation. This year, the monsoon started early, bringing life back to the desert. After the initial rains, greenery spread across the land, grasslands filled up, and crops in the fields began to grow well. Farmers and herders were hopeful that, thanks to this year’s rain, the harvest would be good, and there would be plenty of fodder for livestock.

But this joy did not last long. Without timely rain, the situation has begun to change. Grass that was lush and green a short while ago is now gradually drying up. Seeds and plants in the fields are becoming weak due to a lack of water, and in some areas, crops are withering and dying.

This is a serious concern for the local people because agriculture in Thar depends entirely on rainfall. With no canal or tube-well system, the absence of rain quickly turns the land barren. Water scarcity is affecting both people and livestock, and the shortage of grazing areas is making it harder to find fodder for animals.

Meanwhile, the post-rain green Thar appears beautiful to tourists, attracting many visitors. But the reality is that local residents understand the hardship hidden behind this greenery. For them, more rain is now the most urgent need to save the crops, regrow the grass, and refill water sources.

In Tharparkar, rain is not just a natural event it is the lifeline of the region. Without the much needed showers in the coming days, the situation here may worsen further.

16/07/2025

🌧️Rainwater for Life in the Thar Desert🏜️

A Small Step, A Big Impact

In the heart of the Thar Desert, we have completed the construction of two underground rainwater harvesting tanks, each with a capacity of 12,000 gallons built with brick and cement in just 15 days, under intense desert heat and tough conditions.

During a wildlife habitat survey two months ago, we identified this spot as a natural catchment area where clean rainwater accumulates every year only to be lost due to lack of storage. Today, this water will serve local wildlife and nearby communities for nearly a year.

In the surrounding desert, water is scarce for miles.

These tanks offer hope not just for animals and people, but for sustainable living in arid regions.

🚧This is just the beginning. We now aim to build 3-4 more tanks, preserving rainwater, reducing waste, and supporting ecosystems.

💚A small community-led initiative with long-term impact.

Development

31/05/2025

🌡️🌿 Heat, thirst, and neglect peacocks in Thar are fighting for survival! 🦚💔

The vibrant symbol of Tharparkar’s natural beauty the peacock is dying in large numbers due to extreme heat and water scarcity. 😢

🔸 According to recent reports, over 1,200 peacocks have died in just one month, while thousands more are battling illness.
🔸 Despite having a budget, wildlife and veterinary departments remain silent and inactive no proper treatment, no water tanks, no vaccination drives.
🔸 Modern water sources like RO plants and solar pumps are not accessible to wildlife where humans get clean water, there’s no provision for these birds.

🦚 Peacocks are not just beautiful creatures they are essential to the ecosystem, keeping dangerous creatures like snakes in check.
Their cry serves as an early warning for villagers, alerting them to danger, disaster, or even death.
They are deeply rooted in Thar’s culture, faith, and ecological balance.

📣 We urge the government, wildlife departments, and civil society organizations to:

✅ Immediately install water tanks and ensure access to drinking water
✅ Provide vaccines, treatment, and safe shelters for peacocks
✅ Work with local communities to actively protect wildlife

🌱 Our community-led project “Thar Food Forest” is also a step in this direction — to create a space where nature and wildlife can thrive together.

💚 You, me, all of us — let’s become guardians of nature!

Thar Food Forest

10/02/2026

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