Due to the destruction of natural forests, both the regions are at high risk of natural hazards, wildfires, land sliding, soil erosion, lack of water retention, flooding and related environmental hazards affecting local communities.
The afforestation in these areas will not only help to reduce the effects of such natural calamities, but will benefit the overall environment including improvement of air quality.
The project aims at the plantation of 2.4 million indigenous specie trees
(1.2 million in each area). These MPTs (Multi Purpose Trees) will include populus and pinus species including acacia, acacia gum and juniper etc.
The afforestation project will initially cover an area of 2,000 hectares of land with its scalability option for extension up to 10,000 hectares in future.
The region is characterized by a wealth of natural resource, high mountains, alpine climate and a variety of weather conditions affecting local communities.
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Reducing the effects of desertification and deforestation.
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Promotes ecosystem health.
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Assist in the CO2 absorption from the air and improve air quality.
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Creates job opportunities for the members of the local community.
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Provides grazing lands for livestock.
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Supply forest products including the produce of the forest floor.
The project will serve to:
The plantation is scheduled to start by the end of the year and conclude by March - April 2023 in both regions.
Extensively planned and resource consuming activities are also being undertaken (such as repairs and extensions of water channels) for sustainability of these forests.
The project aims to protect the integrity of the forests for at least 25 years so that environmental benefits can be fully accrued by the communities.
Pact Capital is also planning to extend the project to other parts of Pakistan facing environmental issues such as South-Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)
Afforestation Project in Pakistan
PACT Capital AG conducts a green field afforestation project in two rural areas of Pakistan.
The pilot project would be implemented in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, which are the most prominent northern geographic areas of Pakistan.