The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) organized a seminar on August 28, 2017 to celebrate the successful completion of a project they carried out in collaboration with SSGC by the name of “Restoration and Rehabilitation of Mangroves Ecosystem along the Coast of Pakistan”.
On the occasion, Shahbaz Islam, Head of Corporate Communications, gave a presentation on CSR activities in SSGC. He spoke highly of the collaboration between IUCN and SSGC whereby the latter has helped IUCN plant thousands of saplings in Karachi.
Starting in 2016, the 15 month long project was an effort made by SSGC to increase the area covered by mangrove forests by plantation, conservation and regeneration of degraded forests, as well as raising awareness on the role played by mangroves in the ecosystem, while engaging local communities and setting an example for others to follow.
12,000 Mangrove saplings were planted, against a project target of 9,000. Likewise, in a 200% achievement rate, 20,000 container plants were raised against the 10,000 plant target.
The vital role played by SSGC was recognized in the seminar, which was attended by a number of esteemed guests including Meher Marker Noshirwani, Regional Vice Chair (Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy, Riaz Ahmed Wagan, Conservator Sindh Forest and Wildlife Department and Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Represenative, IUCN, Salman Siddiqui, DGM (CCD) and the Company’s CSR team.