KARACHI: Over three years ago, Masood Lohar, a passionate Pakistani environmentalist, embarked on a mission to breathe new life into a desolate 220-acre landfill on Karachi’s Clifton beach. 
Today, the barren wasteland is a thriving urban forest, home to over 700,000 trees and a vibrant community of over 140 bird species that find sanctuary in its lush greenery and an adjacent lagoon.
“This particular place was a dump site,” Lohar said as he pointed to the trees around him, the first of which he planted exactly 46 months ago. 
“We cleaned the whole mess and then we started bringing soil from outside and started this plantation.” 
Lohar said the Sindh administration supported his venture by granting official permission to work on the forest and allocating Rs50 million ($179,540), which made its development possible.
The site, called the Clifton Urban Forest, is now a flourishing marine ecosystem, home to over 100 plant species, including native mangroves, fruit trees like pomegranates and guavas, and hardy, drought-resistant grass varieties that thrive in Karachi’s harsh climate.
The aim of Lohar’s project is not just beautifying the port city of over 20 million, which often ranks in the world’s top ten most polluted places. The main goal is to restore Karachi’s dwindling marine ecosystem. 
The city, home to the Malir and Lyari rivers, once boasted a network of creeks, lagoons, and estuaries, many of them destroyed or severely degraded over the decades by industrial development and unchecked urban sprawl. The Obhayo Lagoon, once the largest in the area, has all but vanished, while other water bodies have been cut off from the sea, reducing biodiversity and making the city more vulnerable to environmental hazards.
Lohar’s initiative has helped restore a fragment of this ecosystem by reviving a small portion of the Obhayo Lagoon.
“Now you can see that it is providing the services of a lagoon,” said the environmentalist, who has documented the sightings of 140 bird species, including lesser and greater flamingos and Siberian ducks, at the Lagoon since he launched the restoration project.
The forest is now also teeming with insects, honey bees, and native beetles, with the small creatures playing an essential role in pollination and supporting the growth of various plants and trees in the area.
Lohar’s commitment to the environment is deeply personal. A former UN program professional, he witnessed and studied firsthand worsening air quality and environmental degradation in Pakistan’s urban centers.
“I knew at that time that the time will come,” he said, referring to now record-high air pollution levels in Pakistan, particularly in cities like Lahore and Karachi.
“You see, the Pakistani cities at this moment are fighting for their breath because the air quality is getting worse and worse. And the other thing is the [seasonal] heatwaves because concrete is the dominant outlook of our cities.”
Urban forests, like the one Lohar has created, are part of the solution, he said.
Mangroves, in particular, have proven highly effective in sequestering carbon and Lohar estimates that his urban forest, a combination of mangroves and terrestrial trees, captures 6,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the emissions of nearly 1,300 cars.
Yasir Husain, an environmentalist and founder of the Climate Action Center, said that projects like the Clifton Urban Forest were vital, though such initiatives were insufficient to address the broader environmental challenges faced by Pakistan.
“These are just [pilot projects], and the city’s challenge is enormous,” he told Arab News, adding that finding a bird sanctuary in such a stressed environment was a gratifying experience.
“These are tiny projects, if you look at it from a macro perspective of the whole city, but they’re experiments,” he continued, appreciating that urban forests were maintained despite such challenging circumstances.
Yet despite its success, Lohar’s project faces significant challenges, particularly from real estate development. 
Karachi’s rapid urbanization has increased pressure on open spaces, with developers eyeing every available inch for construction.
The urban forest itself is at risk from a development project being carried out by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), which Lohar is worried could destroy over 300,000 of the forest’s mangroves.
KDA’s director general did not respond to a request for a comment.
“I’m not sure how that will unfold in the course of time and impact this marine ecosystem project, but I’m sure that it will definitely stress this project,” Lohar said, gesturing toward a marine wall under construction. 
“I have gone through a lot of difficulties and resources-wise and the indifference of the corporate sector and the government brings us on the verge of giving up.

RIYADH: WBA cruiserweight title holder Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez defeated WBO champ Chris Billam-Smith by unanimous decision on Saturday in the main event of Riyadh’s “Latino Night” to become the undisputed world champion in the division.

The Mexican southpaw improved his record to 47-1, including 30 KOs, while the British champ went down 20-2, 13 KOs, after three straight title defenses.

Ramirez showcased his power and precision before a packed crowd at Riyadh’s The Venue, headlining an unforgettable evening that celebrated the rich heritage of Latin American culture and the global appeal of boxing.

Ramirez took control of the fight from the opening bell, using his size advantage and sharp combinations to pin Billam-Smith on the back foot. The British fighter displayed immense heart, landing counter shots and working the body, but Zurdo’s power and precision proved overwhelming.

In his post-fight interview, Ramirez dedicated his victory to his fans and the Latino community. “I’m a proud Mexican and Latino — I will represent the Latino Night very well,” he told Arab News before the fight. And he did!

Riyadh witnessed an electrifying evening of boxing during the Latino Night, a marquee event of the Riyadh Season, celebrating the spirit of Latino culture through sport and entertainment. Fans packed the arena to witness high-octane action and support fighters representing the vibrant legacy of Latin America.

The evening began with an undercard packed with great talent and exciting matchups. Fighters from across the Latin America showcased skill and determination, thrilling the crowd with breathtaking rounds, technical displays, and a few dramatic comebacks. Each bout built anticipation for the night’s culminating showdown.

Ziyad Almaayouf draws with Juan Garcia in opener
Saudi boxer Ziyad Almaayouf delivered a spirited performance in the opening fight, settling for a hard-fought draw against Mexico’s Juan Garcia. 
The bout showcased Almaayouf’s sharp boxing skills and Garcia’s relentless pressure, with both fighters trading heavy shots and testing each other’s endurance across all six rounds. 
Almaayouf, backed by a passionate home crowd, landed cleaner combinations early in the fight, but Garcia’s aggression in the later rounds allowed him to claw back on the scorecards, leading to a split draw decision.
The result left fans buzzing, with many praising Almaayouf’s resilience and composure under Garcia’s constant attacks.
In a post-fight interview with Arab News, Almaayouf, dubbed “Zizo”, he said that he won the fight tonight despite what the judges decided. “I’m always going to think that I did enough to win the fight. This is just the opinion of two judges.”
“If you go back 10-15 years ago and you ask the world: would they see a Saudi professional boxer standing in the middle of the ring with a tough Mexican fight as such, they wouldn’t believe it,” he added. “But tonight, we showed that can happen.”
He said that the rematch is his next step.
For Garcia, the result marked a testament to his durability and fighting spirit, earning him respect as a worthy opponent in a thrilling opener to an unforgettable night.
Latino Night in Riyadh marked another milestone in Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global hub for sports and entertainment. By blending cultural celebration with world-class boxing, the event left a lasting impression on fans and participants alike.
As the arena emptied and the lights dimmed, one thing was clear: Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez had not only won a fight but had also solidified his position as a global ambassador for the enduring legacy of Latino boxing.