Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Saturday said that the government is fully committed to making Pakistan clean and green as per the vision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan, and this mission can only be achieved through contribution of the private sector.
This was stated by Fawad Chaudhry while inaugurating Pakistan Tobacco Company's Jhelum nursery under its CSR program. Addressing the guests at the inaugural ceremony, Fawad Chaudhry was of the view that "Clean and Green Pakistan" campaign has been launched by the Prime Minister in all provinces including Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
He highlighted the importance of forests in daily lives and guided on environmental effects of deforestation including loss of habitats, increase in temperature due to greenhouse gases emission, water depletion, soil erosion and their effects on the life of indigenous people.
He stressed that Clean and Green Pakistan goal can only be achieved through public private partnership and applauded PTC's active role in bridging the gap. He also appreciated the efforts of PTC for distributing more than 78 million saplings under its Corporate Social Responsibility program and he concluded his speech by saying "Let's put all our efforts together in making Pakistan a Cleaner and Greener country."
While addressing the audience, Director Legal and External Affairs, PTC,
Asad Shah highlighted the initiatives taken by PTC under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He said the PTC's flagship CSR program on afforestation was initiated in 1981 and till date the company has successfully planted and distributed more than 78 million trees free of cost across the country.
He said that this is a 550 bed nursery located on main G.T Road adjacent to its factory and it is expected to churn out more than 0.8 million saplings a year. All plants will be provided to public free of cost, he added.
He further said that in last financial year, PTC has contributed record of 103 billion rupees in terms of excise, income tax and sales tax. He highlighted that tax evasion by local cigarette companies is causing loss of 40-50 billion rupees annually to national exchequer. He demanded that government should provide level playing field to legal industry.
PTC is the pioneer in the afforestation program and it is currently the largest private sector afforestation program in Pakistan. We believe in giving back to the communities that we operate in. Through our afforestation program, we are also supporting the Government's 10 Billion tree tsunami initiative. "PTC is working hand in hand with the government of Pakistan to promote its efforts in the quest of making Pakistan a Clean and Green society," he added.
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