South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC)

Transcription

1 A Subsidiary of the Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries Department Government of the Punjab About Us Newsletter Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 is a Punjab Government entity, established under section 42 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984, as a Public Sector Company. SPFC aims to stimulate private sector investment alongside public money to reduce deforestation in Punjab and to combine forest conservation with sustainable economic development. The investment objective of the company is to encourage the investment in assets that can be established and managed on an environmentally and socially sustainable basis. The Punjab Forest Department after approval of the Government of Punjab assigned a blank area of 134,995 acres to SPFC that mainly falls in D.G. Khan and Bahawalpur Civil Division. The SPFC will act as a vehicle that combines socially and environmentally responsible forestry investments with unique potential for stable and attractive returns through the participation in the value chain of competitive and sustainable industries. The investors will invest in trees and other timber related assets, with an emphasis on high biological growth plantations and aligned with the three pillars of SPFC's business philosophy:- 1. Social and environmental sustainability 2. A balanced portfolio of wood fibre end-uses 3. Cost and quality competitive projects The company believes that this approach will generate both long-term capital appreciation for partners and an attractive and sustainable income yield. SPFC comprises of dynamic individuals, committed to promote the vision of the organization. SPFC's team has experts from various fields i.e. environment, planning and development, communications, research, IT, audit, accountancy, finance, and HR, who are striving to promote sustainable forestry investments in Pakistan. Find more about our team here: h p://bit.ly/2icduzk. The total investable and leasable global forestlands worth more than US$ 480 billion,with forestry investments growing at 20% p.a. for the past 20 years Things to look on About the organization SPFC organize inception seminars with Lahore, Sialkot, Rahim Yar Khan, Sarhad and Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry Field visits to Bahawalpur and D.G. Khan Civil Division Stories on SPFC in News & Media Interview SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016

2 Message from the Chairman, South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC) Being the Chairman of a prestigious organization that seeks to promote commercial forestry in South Punjab is a matter of pride for me. Hailing from South Punjab from an agriculturist-political family from D.G. Khan District, I fully acknowledge the investment potential South Punjab offers. I have always worked towards environmental conservation and sustainability, and the conservation of our natural habitats through a planned eco-based plantation program. Hence, as the Chairman of South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC), I'll strive towards a better environment for the generations to come. It must be noted that Punjab with an area of million acres has only 1.66 million acres of forests resources. Unfortunately, due to lack of investment and bad governance in the past, hundreds of thousands of acres of forest land has deteriorated into blank areas, which is not contributing in terms of revenue nor helping Pakistan improve its forest cover. The situation offers a golden opportunity to the private sector to promote sustainable forestry investments that will help to supply wood-based raw material to the industry, eventually reducing pressure on the existing forests and narrowing the budget deficit. aims to seek private investments in the forestry sector across six districts of South Punjab which includes Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan. Through Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, will help to curb deforestation in Punjab and promote sustainable economic development at large. Most importantly, will create green jobs and provide sustainable farmed wood to the industry, thus contributing to the GDP. Furthermore, aims to address any environmental concerns, while aspiring for a sustainable future. I wish all the best in future endeavors. Regards, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari Message from the Secretary, Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries Department, Government of the Punjab Since the inception of Pakistan, our forests have been subjected to facing the impacts of deforestation, land degradation, grazing pressure and land conversion for agrarian purposes etc. There was always a need to establish such an entity, which can promote sustainable forestry investments to augment the available financial resources from public sector. In this respect, the Government of Punjab has undertaken a revolutionary step in promoting sustainable forest management through the establishment of South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC). The company has been established to promote commercial forestry, with a higher aim to save the existing forests and planting the blank forest areas in Punjab. The company is mandated to seek private investments for raising tree plantations on blank forest land of the Government of the Punjab in Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan Civil Divisions of South Punjab. SPFC aspires to combine forest conservation with sustainable economic development and encouraging investments in assets that can be established and managed on environmentally and socially sustainable basis. As Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) is a dynamic and new concept in Pakistan, I am confident that the SPFC team will ensure that private investment would provide goods and services to the local inhabitants. I am also optimistic that this initiative will not only ensure the sustained production of wood as an important renewable raw material, but indirectly reduce pressure on the adjoining ecosystems of the allotted areas. Furthermore, it will reduce the dependency on raw material imports from overseas and would contribute in saving the import bill of the country. On behalf of the Government of the Punjab, I wish South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC) all the best in future endeavors. Regards, Capt. (R) Jahanzeb Khan SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 Page 2

3 News organize inception seminars with various Chambers of Commerce & Industry to promote forestry investments SPFC in collaboration with the various Chambers of Commerce and Industry organized a series of inception seminars, to sensitize the business community and potential investors about investment opportunities offered by SPFC. The seminar in collaboration with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry was organized on November 15, 2016; with the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry on December 01, 2016; with the Rahim Yar Khan Chamber of Commerce & Industry on December 10, 2016; with the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry on December 13, 2016; and with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry on December 15, In the seminars, presentation on investment opportunities in forestry sector in South Punjab was delivered, which aimed to sensitize the business community about the opportunity. This was followed by Q&A session, to incorporate the views of the business community in the upcoming feasibility study, so that the process can be made inclusive. These seminars have assisted SPFC in effectively reaching out to the business community, and many potential investors have also contacted SPFC in this regard. Inception Seminar at Lahore Chamber Inception Seminar at Lahore Chamber Inception Seminar at Sialkot Chamber Inception Seminar at Sarhad Chamber Inception Seminar at Rahim Yar Khan Chamber Inception Seminar at Islamabad Chamber Media Coverage of the inception seminar with Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Express Tribune h p://tribune.com.pk/story/ /sustainable-future-government-looks-private-investments-forests/ SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 Page 3

4 The Nation h p://na on.com.pk/lahore/16-nov-2016/south-punjab-forest-company-organize-incep on-seminar-at-lahorechamber-of-commerce-and-industry Daily Pakistan h ps://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/business/south-punjab-forest-company-holds-incep on-seminar-at-lcci/ Media Coverage of the inception seminar with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry The News International h ps:// The Express Tribune h p://tribune.com.pk/story/ /go-green-business-community-urged-invest-forests/ Daily Pakistan h ps://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/business/spfc-organises-incep on-seminar-at-icci/ Field Visits The SPFC team comprising of Muhammad Awais, Director (Projects & Operations) and Mohammad Qasim (Research Officer) visited Rajanpur Forest Division, Muzaffargarh Forest Division, D.G. Khan Forest Division, Bahawalpur Forest Division, Bahawalnagar Forest Division and Rahim Yar Khan Forest Division from November 6 to December 16, The rationale behind the field visits was to monitor the field activities of the Transaction Advisor (TA) hired by SPFC for the Transaction Advisory Services including the preparation of the project proposal and to develop a better understanding of the areas assigned to SPFC. SPFC s team visits Rajanpur Forest Division and sites from Muzaffargarh Forest Division SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 Page 4

5 Field visit to Muzaffargarh and D.G. Khan Forest Divisions Field visit to Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan Forest Divisions Progress review meeting held A progress review meeting was held at Ev-K2-CNR office, Islamabad, on December 02, 2016, which was presided by Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Chairman, SPFC, and attended by Ashiq Ahmad Khan, Board of Directors, SPFC; Tahir Rasheed, CEO, SPFC; Salman Ahmad, CFO, SPFC; Hafiz Muhammad Awais, Director (Projects & Operations), SPFC; Abdul Latif Rao, NRM Specialist, GT; Usman Tahir, GT; Muhammad Minhaj, GT; and Shahid Ahmad Khan, GT. The meeting aimed to update the Chair about the progress of the feasibility study. The Chair suggested to collect ample water and soil samples for better assessment of the land allocated to SPFC and also exploring options for facilitating small farmers in the region. Ashiq Ahmed Khan wins WCPA's Kenton Miller Award Ashiq Ahmed Khan, Member Board of Directors, SPFC, and a senior forester, has been honored to be awarded WCPA's Kenton Miller Award. This award was announced during the World Convention on Protected Areas (WCPA) opening meeting on September 01, 2016, in Hawaii and officially presented at the World Conservation Congress (WCC). We congratulate Ashiq Ahmed Khan on this great achievement and hope that he will continue nurturing conservationists for generations to come. Participation at World Conservation Congress Tahir Rasheed, CEO, SPFC, was invited as an expert on a side event titled Mega Cities and Watershed Management at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Hawai'i. The session focused on showcasing the experience of IUCN and other partners in working on landscape and ecosystem restoration of watersheds, on which mega cities are dependent. A few case studies including the restoration of Miyun Watershed in Beijing Municipality and Dongjiang watershed in China, demonstrated key successes about how remote sensing, ecosystem assessment, SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 Page 5

6 landscape restoration and resource management etc. can jointly build stronger natural water infrastructure for urban water security. The event involved four presentations and a panel of five panelists sharing their experiences of working on forest landscape and ecosystem-based restoration of watersheds of mega cities in China, as well as elsewhere. The empirical examples enabled enhanced understanding and subsequently uptake for replicating restoration efforts for similar watersheds across the world. Tahir Rasheed, CEO, SPFC, at Mega Cities and Watershed Management, Huwaii, USA SPFC's Communication & PR Specialist wins three AGAHI Awards Syed Muhammad Abubakar, Communication & PR Specialist, SPFC, has clinched three AGAHI awards at a ceremony held at the National Library of Pakistan, Islamabad, on December 10, Abubakar has won in the categories of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Water Diplomacy and Disaster and Catastrophe. Abubakar regularly contributes stories on the issues of climate change, global warming, deforestation, water and food security, sustainable development, pollution, urban resilience and biodiversity conservation in the leading dailies of Pakistan. Syed Muhammad Abubakar receives 3 AGAHI Awards Last year, he was able to win the SEC-Toyota Young Environmental Journalist of the Year 2015 award, at Asian Environment Journalism Awards (AEJA), by Singapore Environment Council (SEC) (URL: h p:// We congratulate Abubakar on his achievements and hope that he will continue raising environmental awareness for a sustainable future. Media Coverage Daily Pakistan h ps://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/syed-abubakar-becomes-the-first-environment-journalist-to-win-three-agahiawards-in-2016/ SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 Page 6

7 Our heroes SPFC appreciates Naveed Ahmed, Range Forest Officer Jampur, Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries Department, for his courage and devotion in keeping the land mafia out of the picture. Based on the information provided by SPFC about encroachments in Rajanpur Forest Division, Naveed Ahmed successfully led retrieval operations in this regard. On December 01, 2016, Naveed successfully ended encroachments at Rakh Azmat Wala in Rajanpur Forest Division. SPFC takes pride in the fact that such committed individuals are part of the Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries Department, who are striving to protect the forest land from any threats. In an exclusive conversation with Naveed Ahmed, he seemed committed to protect the forest land from any encroachments.he further informed that on December 20, 2016, he led another successful retrieval operation, where he not just ended encroachments but also lodged FIRs against the encroachers. SPFC salutes the courage of Naveed Ahmed and hopes that he will keep contributing to the department in years to come. Appreciation from senior foresters/environmentalists When the news regarding SPFC was shared at All-Forester Network, Pakistan's first and largest forum of foresters, created to discuss local, regional and international forestry-related issues, it received encouraging response from the foresters. The renowned foresters welcomed the initiative as a long-awaited decision that will help to save the last remaining forests of Pakistan. According to Vaqar Zakaria, Managing Director, Hagler Bailly Pakistan: This is an excellent initiative by the Punjab government, and strategically well designed to address the challenges the sector is facing. It is also very encouraging to see that they have engaged a capable and experienced person like you (CEO, SPFC) to provide leadership to the effort. I wish you the best in helping Punjab and the country in improving the performance of this sector. According to Dr. Masood Arshad, Director (Climate, Freshwater & Energy), WWF-Pakistan: 'During my recent discussion with you (CEO, SPFC) on the working of South Punjab Forest Company and especially the role of private sector in improving the forest cover, I am pleased to inform you that WWF-Pakistan has also been very actively involved in engaging the private sector to promote conservation through CSR. We have close relationships with the Chambers of Commerce and Industries of Sialkot, Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi and corporate sector, where we can join hands to move forward in achieving the overall goal of conservation in the province in particular and country in general. I wish you all the success and please let me know where I can help and wish that this company has a long term and a sustainable vision with all the flexibility and authority so that you can work effectively.' SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 Page 7

8 Other Updates October 04, 2016, Meeting of the Board of Directors, SPFC: The fourth meeting of the Board of Directors (BOD) of SPFC was held under the chairmanship of Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, wherein the various agenda/business were discussed. The CEO, SPFC, and the Transaction Advisors gave their presentations to the BOD about the progress/achievements to-date. October 2016, Staff induction and shifting to new office: The hiring of the SPFC staff and shifting to the new office was completed in October The new office is now located at 94-Babar Block, New Garden Town, Lahore. November 17, 2016, Presentation on PPRA rules: Ayesha Riaz, Research Assistant, SPFC, gave a talk on Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules to the SPFC team. The presentation focused on policies and procedures for public procurement by federal government owned public sector organizations, to improve management, transparency, accountability and quality of public procurement of goods and services. December 08-09, 2016, Training on basic concepts of accounting: Syed Naeem Abbas, Head Internal Audit, SPFC, delivered a training to the SPFC team on the basic concepts of accounting. The training session aimed to present the concepts and application of beginning accounting principles, briefing the fundamental accounting concepts, the elements of financial statements and basic accounting vocabulary. December, 2016, Meeting with potential investors Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari chairing the board meeting Due to the positive response from the seminars held in collaboration with various Chambers of Commerce & Industry, a number of potential investors have contacted SPFC and showed interest to acquire land for sustainable forestry purposes. The initiative is believed to become a huge success. News & Media Syed Muhammad Abubakar, Communication & PR Specialist, SPFC, through his feature stories urged the need to promote investments in forestry in Punjab. The stories can be read here: With wood consumption on rise, increasing need for investment in forests Express Tribune h p://tribune.com.pk/story/ /wood-consump on-rise-increasing-need-investment-forests/ Investing in a green future The News on Sunday (TNS) h p://tns.thenews.com.pk/inves ng-green-future/#.wdkmpk_3asp Also find below, some more feature stories by Abubakar on Pakistan's vulnerability to climate change and Indo-Pak water crisis: SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 Page 8

9 Has Pakistan really 'improved' when it comes to tackling climate change? The Express Tribune h p://tribune.com.pk/story/ /pakistan-really-improved-comes-tackling-climate-change/ Assessing India's water threat Dawn h p:// Interview Salman Ahmad, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and, Company Secretary, South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC) Salman Ahmad has joined SPFC in July 2016 as the first Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Company Secretary. With over 13 years of extensive experience in the field of Finance & Accounts, Financial Management & Analyses, Audit, Taxation, Companies' Secretarial & Corporate Affairs, HR & Administration, Business Development and Operations support roles, Salman aspires to instill an innovative approach to SPFC. Prior to joining SPFC, Salman was associated with Punjab Board of Investment & Trade (PBIT) as Additional Director (Finance & Admin) and Company Secretary. He also worked as Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary at The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited (PACRA). In an exclusive conversation with Salman Ahmad, about his inspiration to join SPFC and future ambitions, he seemed highly motivated to take the organization to another level, so that SPFC can achieve its desired objectives. i. What inspired you to join SPFC? I was always passionate to contribute towards ecology and environmentalism, and wanted to become part of such an organization, which promotes nature conservation. Hence the opportunity to work at SPFC was the right choice for me. Moreover, the name South Punjab Forest Company also attracted me, as I am Son of the Soil and South Punjab (Bahawalpur) is my birth place. ii. Now that you are part of an organization which aims to promote sustainable forestry investments in Pakistan, where do you find your role and how you aim to further its vision? Although the purpose of establishing SPFC is to seek private investments for raising tree plantations through sustainable commercial forestry, but as long as the trees grow on the land, they would not only contribute to the environment, till harvesting, but also reduce logging pressure on the existing forests and supplying adequate source of raw material to the wood-based industry. iii. How and when will the land be offered to the private investors? SPFC will award the land in different units and slots to the private investors, through transparent tendering and bidding process under Public-Private-Partnership Act, 2014, and Forest (Amended) Act, SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 Page 9

10 The land will be offered to the investors initially for 15 years, which is extendable to another term on satisfactory performance and mutual consent of the parties. The investor and government will share the output/produce from the cultivated area(s) of land and upon harvesting a certain portion of harvested trees/earnings to be transferred to the exchequer, while the rest to be taken by the investor. i. What kind of investors SPFC is targeting? Any local or foreign investor who will be meeting the criteria can apply, however needs to have relevant human resources and technical expertise for raising tree plantations. Also the investor should have the financial strength to inject the required equity for some period of time to make the project successful. ii. Any message for the SPFC family? Focus on organizational goals and devote your energies to make this project successful, as you will prosper with the growth and sustainability of SPFC. Social Media Posts Facebook November 17, 2016 SPFC's Inception Seminar in collaboration with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) received extensive coverage in the national dailies of Pakistan. For more information: h p://bit.ly/2icwbkj Twitter December 14, 2016 Take a look at the agenda of our tomorrow's #Seminar with #ICCI on 'Investment Opportunities in Forestry Sector in South Punjab' #Forestry' Instagram December 01, 2016 Tahir Rasheed #CEO #SPFC addressing the Q's of the #business #community at the inception #seminar on Investment Opportunities in Forestry Sector in South Punjab #forestry #spfc #GrowGreen2EarnGreen #Forests4Future #southpunjab #punjab #pakistan h p://bit.ly/2iccuwr Contact Us: PABX: Fax: info@spfc.org.pk Address: 94-Babar Block, New Garden Town, Lahore Editor: Syed Muhammad Abubakar Editorial Committee: Tahir Rasheed, Salman Ahmad, Syed Muhammad Abubakar Designer: Syeda Fariha Muzammil SPFC Issue 1 Oct-Dec 2016 Page 10