Engro and the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) have entered into a partnership for community development and fishery improvement in the coastal areas.
Aiming to provide alternative livelihoods to fishing communities and reduce harmful fishing practices, the top management from both the organisations inaugurated the two-and-a-half-year long initiative with an aim to explore sustainable environmental solutions and also address the need for community development and well-being.
According to press statement issued here, the project titled ‘sustainable fishing entrepreneurship – a citizen based approach to saving Pakistan’s unique marine environment’ is being implemented in Kakapir, Ibrahim Hyderi and Rehri Goth, Karachi.
The main purpose of the project is to build capacity of fisher folk to decrease post-harvest losses, reduce by-catch and over-fishing in the marine waters of Pakistan.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan, said that the project will address various issues related to fishery development in addition to building capacity of the fisher communities.
Ali Dehlavi, Interim Head Sindh and Balochistan, WWF-Pakistan, was of the view that Engro was taking the lead on providing alternative livelihood opportunities in these areas and the project will help local communities to generate income and earn their livelihood.
Khalid Siraj Subhani, President Engro Corporation and Syed Muhammad Ali – CEO of Engro Vopak and Elengy Terminal Limited also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of the project.
In order to pay tribute to the conservation efforts of fishermen, an appreciation award was also given to Shah Zameen, a WWF-Pakistan trained fisherman, for collection of excellent data and information on marine biodiversity.
