Resources’ dearth challenge for environment
LAHORE – In an attempt to create a deeper understanding of the crucial importance of environment, the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service Pakistan conceptualised an art competition titled ‘Friends of the Environment’ at a local hotel on Sunday. The event was held as part of the golden jubilee celebrations commemorating 50 years of Imamat of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan in which a number of initiatives, programmes and developmental projects are being organised internationally.
The objective of this activity was to encourage youth to participate in a fun activity, while simultaneously raising awareness about the importance of the natural environment, the methods of preserving it, and planning to built environment accordingly. Youth from across Pakistan in the age group between 9-20 years were encouraged to participate in this activity. Around 40,000 students from different parts of the country submitted their drawings in this competition. The contest was divided into three different stages with initiation at local level with short listed paintings being promoted to a regional and national level competition respectively.
At the ceremony, the top 10 paintings of the competition, short listed by the artists of national repute, were placed on display for the general public. The successful artists (the winners) also performed live paintings at the event to inspire the attendees.
Chief guest Iqbal Walji, president Aga Khan Council for Pakistan, said that the challenge of improving environmental conditions lied not in an inherent conflict between man and nature, but in the penury of natural resources. “These conditions often create a downward spiral that results in deeper poverty, depleted soils, deforested hills, polluted water, disease, and, ultimately despair. The reasons for this cycle are complex and, in many instances, require integrated, multidisciplinary solutions.
“Ecological concerns have always been part of the ethical underpinnings of the network, rooted as they are in the Quran’s exhortation for man to be a good steward of the earth. The solutions to environmental problems cannot be implemented in isolation from the problems of human habitats.
“All of the environment-related activities undertaken by the AKDN are therefore integrated into other development activities as healthcare, education, cultural revitalisation and economic development,” Waliji said.
Chairman Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan Hafiz Sherali said “The kind of paintings that we see here today, does not only reflect the artistic abilities of our youth but also lights a candle of hope to live in a healthy environment.
‘Friends of Environment’ was focussed on raising mass awareness about environment, which has emerged as one of the recent pressing challenges. These issues are not only creating severe threats for the mother earth but are also affecting our health, personality, attitudes mental growth and directly influence our quality of life.” It may be mentioned here that AKDN institutions have been working on a number of initiatives to improve the quality of the environment. Some of the major initiatives include the Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Fund for the environment, rehabilitation of Altit and Baltit forts in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, beautification of Al-Azhar Garden in Egypt, water-harvesting projects in Syria and India, water and sanitation projects and promotion of indoor air improving technologies for rural population in Pakistan, and promotion of eco-tourism and rehabilitation of the Mausoleum of Humayun in India.
Ismailimail 
To spread the awareness about environment friendly behavior, a website is offering good t-shirts with eco-related printing on it. Check out http://www.hanger360.com.pk for further details. Help Environment.
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