Karoonjhar mountain range declared as heritage site in Sindh

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has made a landmark decision, declaring the entire Karoonjhar mountain range in Tharparkar district a protected heritage site.

This ruling puts an end to the controversy surrounding its preservation, which began when the provincial government granted heritage status to only 16% of the range, sparking outrage among residents and political parties.

The Mirpurkhas Bench of the SHC issued a stern warning, stating that any breach of this ruling would be considered a violation of the court’s order and could lead to punishment under Article 204 of the Constitution.

In addition, the decision came in response to a contempt petition filed by Advocate Shankar Lal.

The controversy started on September 14 when the Sindh Cabinet announced that only 21,000 acres of the Karoonjhar Mountains would be protected, following a previous court order from October 2023.

However, the petitioner and residents opposed this, arguing that international law doesn’t allow heritage sites to be declared in a fragmented manner, enabling mining and excavation in other parts of the range.

The people of Nangarparkar see the entire mountain range as sacred and essential to their cultural heritage. With this ruling, the court has upheld its concerns and ensured the protection of this vital cultural and natural resource.