The Public Private Partnership (PPP) Steering Committee of Government of Punjab has approved a project of afforestation across six districts of South Punjab for 15 years to be implemented by South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC) - a subsidiary of the Punjab Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries Department. The project will be executed in collaboration with the private sector that will promote sustainable forestry investments in the region and bring numerous economic and environmental benefits as well.

The PPP Steering Committee was chaired by Malik Nadeem Kamran, Minister, Planning & Development Department (P&DD), Punjab government, and attended by senior officials of the relevant government departments and members of steering committee. The officials of SPFC including Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Chairman, Tahir Rasheed, CEO, Salman Ahmad, CFO, and Hafiz Muhammad Awais, Director (Projects & Operations) also attended the meeting.

The Minister, Planning & Development Department stated that this project is one of the many initiatives being undertaken by the Government of Punjab to bring a green revolution in the province. According to Tahir Rasheed, CEO, SPFC, "The approval of SPFC's project from PPP Steering Committee is a landmark achievement and the first one in the history of forestry in Pakistan - a move that will galvanize the private sector to invest in forestry and earn huge returns. The project's approval is for 15 years and will have immense ecological and economical benefits alike, as it will help to sequester carbon emissions, adapt and mitigate climate change, provide livelihood opportunities to local communities and most importantly sustain the wood-based industry. It will help to save the remaining forests of Pakistan."

Tahir Rasheed also briefed the members of the steering committee regarding the environmental benefits of the initiative including carbon sequestration of approximately 5.6 million tonnes, plantation of almost 11.4 million trees on two rotations and creation of almost 15,000 green jobs.

The initiative of SPFC is the brainchild of Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Chairman, SPFC, who is currently the Member of National Assembly and Chairman of Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, who has played an instrumental role in convincing the policy-makers that a shift from traditional forest management to sustainable forest management will yield immense benefits. Through SPFC, plant species beneficial for the environment will be planted which will improve biodiversity, control micro-climate and offer financial benefits to the investors. On the approval of the project from steering committee, a green revolution is underway which will revive the forestry sector in Pakistan and offer a promising future for all.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017