A 10-day Pakistan Mountain Festival will start here from December 1 with the theme of “Women Move Mountains” at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), said a joint press briefing here on Thursday.
Speaking at a press briefing here at PNCA, the Federal Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division and chairperson of the grand event Fareena Mazhar said,“usually, we see the impact of climate change on life, livelihood and as a stress on the ecosystems and natural resources.
This year, Ministry of National Heritage and Culture with the support of experts and communities representatives will be reviewing the impact of climate change on our heritage and culture in the changing times. Cultural heritage in the changing climate has been undermined in our country. Not much is done. Even we didn’t thought of taking up the mountain heritage conservation and promotion vigorously.”
Ms. Mazhar said, “We are living in the era of climate change, evidently supported by science. Even those nations and sectors of industry who were in the state of denial have now accepted that climate change is happening and very fast. Pakistan is one of the most climate vulnerable countries, and in Pakistan, mountains and its women are the most neglected and vulnerable”. The grand event will significantly highlight the challenges confronting mountain heritage and culture, women’s socioeconomic empowerment. The outcome will serve as a framework for mainstreaming of mountain heritage and culture with a focus on women’s role in socioeconomic development, she said. It is a public advocacy event by DEVCOM-Pakistan that is largest festival promoting mountains and its people. Mountain heritage and culture has been vanishing due to urbanisation and climate impact, said Munir Ahmed, CEO, DEVCOM-Pakistan. He said that the festival was founded in 2005 to raise awareness on the climate challenges being faced by the mountains of Pakistan and its communities. Promotion and mainstreaming of the mountain products, eco-tourism and culture is the backbone of the mountain economy. -APP
