Zubair Qureshi
Youth shall be sensitized to take care of the Pakistani mountains that are second to none in their grandeur and glory.
Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul made these remarks while speaking as chief guest at the closing ceremony of the 9th Pakistan Mountain Festival organised by the Devcom-Pakistan here at Aqs gallery on Thursday.
Pakistan’s first K-2 climber Ashraf Aman, Chief Executive Officer Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) Qazi Azmat Isa, National Secretary of the Pakistan Youth Hostels Association (PYHA) Ambassador (R) Qazi Humayun, WaterAid Advocacy coordinator Zartasha Niazi, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme Manager Altaf Hussain Shah and Country Coordinator of the Italian development organization Ev-K2-CNR Riazul Hassan were also present on the occasion.
While addressing the ceremony, Zartaj Gul said mountaineering and tourism could bring much awaited prosperity and economic development to the northern parts of the country.
The hardworking natives of the mountains are the custodians of the indigenous knowledge, folklore and culture, she said.
The minister said provision of alternate energy to the mountain communities would decrease pressure on the mountain forests.
They will also be sensitized to protect their resources from the exploiters of the natural resources. Poverty is another reason for the mountain communities to lagging behind, she said.
“We need to have integrated and comprehensive plans to combating the climate challenge, poverty and disaster risk reduction,” said the minister.
She appreciated the Devcom-Pakistan (Development Communications Network) for consistently developing and strengthening the Pakistan Mountain Festival, a flagship annual thematic advocacy event that engages the stakeholders up and downstream.
Speaking on the occasion, Devcom-Pakistan Director and the founder of Pakistan Mountain Festival Munir Ahmed said the festival was mainly focusing on engaging youth and mountain communities up and downstream to create a synergy for raising voice for mountain conservation and development.
Mountains are the frontline of climate impact and need more active plans of investment to protect nature and natural resources besides investing in the natives’ livelihood and for the protection of their lives and infrastructure.
The recipients of the Friends of Mountain Awards included Zubair Qureshi, Senior Correspondent of Pakistan Observer, Zeeshan Hussain, Executive producer Khabarnak Geo News, Online News Agency’s photographer Sultan Bashir, The Nation’s photo journalist Syed Mehdi and others.
