Pakistan’s renowned climbers highlight Pakistan’s potential in mountaineering expedition
Zubair Qureshi
From the winding paths of the Trail-5, they picked trash of all sorts including empty bottles, used shopping bags, juice cans and tissue papers, etc.
The hiking-cum-cleanliness expedition was organized by a local non-government organization (NGO) Development Communications network (Devcom-Pakistan) in connection with its ongoing 11th Pakistan Mountain Festival (PMF).
The PMF is the annual flagship event to commemorate the UN’s International Mountain Day (IMD).
The event was organized in collaboration with the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWNB), a subordinate organization of the Ministry of Climate Changethe Gym Club of the Quaid-e-Azam University, CS Adventure Club of the Comsats University Islamabad Campus, GBC Council, Westminster Academy and Rawalpindi Women University.
Before hiking and cleanup, the IWMB Assistant Director Sakhawat Ali briefed the participants about the biological diversity and natural heritage of the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP).
Established in 1980, the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) is the world’s third largest national park with an area of 17,386 hectares (42,960 acres), he said.
At the foothills of Himalaya, it has a number of peaks including Tilla Charouni (1604m) the highest peak of the MHNP, he said adding the park was rich in biodiversity, especially rich in Sino-Himalayan fauna, most notably gray goral, barking deer and the Leopard.
Combined MHNP is home to around 600 plant species, 402 bird varieties, 38 mammals and 27 species of reptiles.
According to IWMB official, the board has recently taken many steps for the protection of the park and the visitors. Among these steps including prompt response in case of fire over Margalla Hills.
We have prevented a number of tree-chopping incidents and forest fires, besides, the renovated IWMB nature education centre is also something we take pride in regarding its awareness raising sessions.
