punjab forest department, epcl ink mou
April 14, 2009
Business Recorder - A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday morning between the Punjab Forest Department and Engro Polymer and Chemicals Limited (EPCL) at Changa Manga Forest. This MoU would help in implementing a plantation project with the financial support of Engro Polymer and Chemicals Limited.
The MoU stated that the Punjab Forest Department would extend co-operation and technical support needed for the implementation of the Project. World Wide Funds for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) would monitor the activities of the plantation during the Project period.
Azam Suleiman Khan, Secretary Forest Wildlife and Fisheries Department, said the Punjab government is committed to forest conservation and increasing forest cover. “This Project is appropriate because the Government of Pakistan has set a target of increasing the forest cover by 5.6 percent in 2010 and 6 percent by 2015 in the Mid Term Development Framework. The government encourages public-private partnership as it promotes the sense of ownership amongst its stakeholders such as communities, private companies and Non-governmental Organisations,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Ali Hassan Habib, Director General of WWF-P, said the WWF-P appreciates the strategic decision of Engro Polymer and Chemicals Limited to focus on forest conservation as their main Corporate Social Responsibility theme. “This is a timely decision that is appreciated considering that Pakistan has a high rate of deforestation. We appreciate that the Punjab Forest Department has taken a brave step by partnering with private sector and NGOs, such as WWF-P that would monitor the work of the government against the targets set by this project,” he added.
Syed Ahsenuddin, Vice President of Engro Polymers and Chemicals Limited, said they lend extreme importance towards the protection and conservation of environment as to protect environment is their core value.
“We believe that we own the responsibility of caring for the community and the environment in which we operate. This project is a unique initiative by our company that aims to contribute in reducing its environmental footprint. The Idea of the “Carbon Offset.
