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Omar urges

private sector to

aid community

uplift

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Federal Minister for Environment, Local Bodies, Rural Development, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Omar Asghar Khan has urged the private sector to contribute to community development.

Inaugurating the coconut park on Thursday, which has been re-developed by Shell Pakistan Limited as an amenity for the community, Asghar said that it was the government policy to encourage corporate and community involvement in protecting the environment. He urged the corporate sector to come forward and work towards reducing pollution.

David Weston, Managing Director of Shell Pakistan, in his address reaffirmed Shell's commitment to sustainable development and the company's partnership with the local community.

During 1999, he said, Shell Pakistan donated and funded social development projects to the tune of Rs 15 million. "We plan to continue making social investments on an ongoing basis", he added.

The coconut park is situated under the Clifton Flyover in close vicinity of the Shell Headoffice. During construction of the flyover it was destroyed and the coconut plantation within it was in danger of dying out. Shell Pakistan has spent Rs. 750,000 on the restoration and beautification of this park while the residents' committee will fund the operating and maintenance expenses.

Shell Pakistan was recently awarded the Rio Tinto Award for its long term commitment to social development.