Steering committee hopes to see a greener Punjab
Approval of the project is a landmark achievement and the first one of its kind in the history of forestry in Pakistan
PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The Public Private Partnership (PPP) Steering Committee has approved a forestation project in Southern Punjab
Aimed at promoting sustainable forest investments and environmental benefits, the public-private partnership (PPP) steering committee of the provincial government has approved the project across six districts of Southern Punjab. It is being implemented by the South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC), which is a subsidiary of the Punjab Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Department.
The minister for the planning and development department has stated that the project is one of the several initiatives undertaken by the Punjab government to spark a “green revolution”.
Rs540m allocated to environment
SPFC CEO Tahir Rasheed said the approval of the project is a landmark achievement and the first one of its kind in the history of forestry in Pakistan. He believed the move will galvanise the private sector and earn huge returns.
According to Tahir, the project's time span is 15 years and it will have immense ecological and economical benefits. The CEO continued that the initiative would help curb carbon emissions, apart from adapting and mitigating climate change. He stressed livelihoods would be created and the project would be key to sustain the wood-based industry. “It will help to save the remaining forests of Pakistan.”
Tahir said that the project is expected to produce environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration of an approximated 5.6 million tonnes, plantation of 11.4 million trees on two rotations and creation of 15,000 green jobs.
Sindh budget neglects the environment, even on World Environment Day
According to communication and PR specialist Syed Muhammad Abubakar, the initiative to plant different species will improve biodiversity, control the microclimate and offer financial benefits to investors.
He said that the project approval has paved the way towards a green revolution which will revive the forestry sector in Pakistan and offer a promising future.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2017.
The Public Private Partnership (PPP) Steering Committee has approved a forestation project in Southern Punjab
Aimed at promoting sustainable forest investments and environmental benefits, the public-private partnership (PPP) steering committee of the provincial government has approved the project across six districts of Southern Punjab. It is being implemented by the South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC), which is a subsidiary of the Punjab Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Department.
The minister for the planning and development department has stated that the project is one of the several initiatives undertaken by the Punjab government to spark a “green revolution”.
Rs540m allocated to environment
SPFC CEO Tahir Rasheed said the approval of the project is a landmark achievement and the first one of its kind in the history of forestry in Pakistan. He believed the move will galvanise the private sector and earn huge returns.
According to Tahir, the project's time span is 15 years and it will have immense ecological and economical benefits. The CEO continued that the initiative would help curb carbon emissions, apart from adapting and mitigating climate change. He stressed livelihoods would be created and the project would be key to sustain the wood-based industry. “It will help to save the remaining forests of Pakistan.”
Tahir said that the project is expected to produce environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration of an approximated 5.6 million tonnes, plantation of 11.4 million trees on two rotations and creation of 15,000 green jobs.
Sindh budget neglects the environment, even on World Environment Day
According to communication and PR specialist Syed Muhammad Abubakar, the initiative to plant different species will improve biodiversity, control the microclimate and offer financial benefits to investors.
He said that the project approval has paved the way towards a green revolution which will revive the forestry sector in Pakistan and offer a promising future.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2017.