Home News IUCN, SECMC Launch 2nd phase of Community Livelihoods Program in Thar

IUCN, SECMC Launch 2nd phase of Community Livelihoods Program in Thar

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IUCN, SECMC Launch 2nd phase of Community Livelihoods Program in Thar

The project focuses on promoting climate change resilient livelihoods in Thar as well as protecting the Thar ecosystem through species’ recovery and habitat conservation.

KARACHI

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company launched the second phase of their partnership in Thar, focusing on improving community livelihoods and biodiversity conservation, at a ceremony organized in Karachi on Thursday.

The launch ceremony was attended MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro, senior officials from the government, as well as by representatives of the development sector, academia, media and the private sector.

The program follows an earlier project on vulture conservation and the first-ever ecological survey of Thar in Sindh.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro appreciated the role the private sector is playing in the development of Thar, and said: “I am encouraged to note that IUCN and the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) are taking forward their partnership into the next phase – and working towards improving the livelihoods of the communities and conservation in Thar.”

He added that “the progress of the Thar coal energy is a clear reflection of our commitment to the people, and we hope we will together bring about betterment for the people of Thar in particular and the province in general.”

“SECMC has created a wonderful example by not only responding to the energy needs of the people but it has at the same time, created thousands of opportunities for both men and women of Thar,” he noted.

IUCN-Engro-Thar-Sindh-Courier-1CEO Amir Iqbal of SECMC said, “From the very beginning of our mining project, our team knew that SECMC has the potential to bring about great positive change in Thar. Our partnership with IUCN is giving the Thar Dream a whole new dimension – sustainability.”

“This partnership focuses on promoting climate change resilient livelihoods in Thar as well as protecting the Thar ecosystem through species’ recovery and habitat conservation. I am confident that together with IUCN, we will continue to create a lasting, positive impact for Thar communities,” CEO SECMC added.

Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative of IUCN, said in his welcome remarks, that “IUCN, which works on nature conservation, has joined hands with SECMC to work towards protecting the fauna and flora or Thar and also to create innovative techniques to improve livelihoods of Thari communities.”

Umair Aslam Butt, Head of HSE, SECMC, said he hoped that this partnership would create the opportunity to work for the communities and help contribute to improving their livelihoods, create new sources of incomes and help towards bringing about prosperity in

The project presentation was given by Danish Rashdi, Head of IUCN Karachi Program Office, who said that the initiative is aimed at supporting communities in Thar and “the path to this goal is through conservation and sustainable development”. The presentation highlighted the key focus areas including biodiversity conservation and biosaline agriculture. (PR)

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