KARACHI: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) launched the second phase of their partnership in Thar focusing on improving community livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.

A programme organised here on Thursday was attended by parliamentary secretary on health Qasim Siraj Soomro, senior government officials as well as by representatives of the development sector, academia, media and the private sector.

The event follows an earlier project on vulture conservation and the first-ever ecological survey of Thar.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Soomro appreciated the role the private sector was playing in the development of Thar and hoped that the SECMC-IUCN collaboration would help improve livelihoods of the communities and conservation in Thar.

`SECMC has created a wonderful example by not only responding to the energy needs of the people but it has, at the same time, created thousands of opportunities for both men and women of Thar,` he noted.

The progress of the Thar coal energy was a clear reflection of government`s commitment to the people, he added.

SECMC chief executive Amir Iqbal said the company was responsibly engaged in maintaining a balance between development and environment, while also catering to the basic needs of the communities under its sustainability approach.

In his welcome remarks, Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, country representative of IUCN, said the organisation joined hands with SECMC to work towards protecting the fauna and flora of Thar and create innovative techniques to improve livelihoods of Thari communities.

Umair Aslam Butt, also representing SECMC, hoped that the partnership would create new sources of incomes and help towards bringing about prosperity in Thar.