KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) organized a launching ceremony of mangroves plantation at Kangwari Islands near Port Qasim in the jurisdiction of SSGC LPG-Terminal today.
Senior officials of SSGC and IUCN Pakistan were present on this occasion. Children from a local school were specially invited for this plantation ceremony who also planted the saplings.
Under this project SSGC and IUCN Pakistan will plant approximately 10,000-15,000 mangroves saplings in the jurisdiction of SSGC LPG-Terminal at Port Qasim Area.
According to the MOU signed between both the organizations, IUCN Pakistan will also raise awareness of the importance of the mangroves among the local communities and private sector companies and engage communities conserving mangroves ecosystems.
Speaking to media Mr. Shahbaz Islam AGM (CCD) SSGC said that this plantation initiative is part of Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility. He said that SSGC gives due importance to the environment and we will continue to take similar initiatives in future as well. We believe that this is a much serious attainable issue of the earth, he added.
While speaking to media Mr. Tahir Qureshi, IUCN Coastal Ecosystem Expert said that mangroves in this area are lungs of Karachi that provide oxygen to the habitants of the city. He further said that mangroves are the sanctuaries and breeding grounds of fish, prawns and crabs. The more mangroves we will have the better livelihoods would be available for the coastal communities.
Dr. Babar Hussain, NRM Coordinator-Sea Intrusion briefed the visiting delegates about the mangroves and its benefits.
Mr. Madani Arafat Siddiqui, DGM Incharge (R&D), Mr. Salman A. Siddiqui, DGM (CCD), Mr.Muhammad Ali Gohar, Chief Manager (Media Relations), Mr. Shaheen Imam – Assistant Manager (CSR) and other officials were also present at the site at the launching ceremony who all planted saplings along with the school children.