WWF, ICIMOD, GB FOREST, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT and SERENA HOTEL JOINTLY CELEBRATED WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2014 WITH SCHOOLS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES AT NALTAR
Gilgit, June 5: WWF-Pakistan jointly with GB Forest, Wildlife and Environment Department, ICIMOD and Gilgit Serena Hotel celebrated the World Environment Day 2014 with school children and local communities at Naltar- a pristine tourist resort 42Km northwest of Gilgit town. Students and teachers from different schools of Gilgit and Naltar, Conservation Committee members, government officials, representatives of NGOs and media attended the celebration.
Mr. Ghulam Muhammad, Rang Forest Officer, Naltar while representing the custodian deparment chaired the celebration. Mr. Rehmat Ali of WWF offered a warm welcome and shared objectives of the event. Mr. Asghar Khan Asst. Director – Responsible Tourismm Serena Hotel and Mr. Sajjad Khan of Aga Khan Higher Secondary Scool also shared their views while Mr. Saeed Abbass read out the special message from Director General ICIMOD on the occasion.
Student speakers and performers, highlighted different environmental issues appearing due to rapid environmental degradation, through impressive speeches and skits. Gilgit Serena Hotel distribute cloth bags to the participants, local community and shopkeepers “SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS” The purpose of this was aware especially the students about the negative impacts of plastic bag and give message to the youth, stakeholders and community that plastic bags are Environmental dangers and create massive amounts of pollution. Participants also participated in the Nature Walk and collected solid waste to keep the natural environment clean and healthy. A total of 80 KG litter including 60KG non-degradable and 20 KG degradable, was collected and safely disposed off.
The chair, while addressing the participants, said “only by taking proper care of the environment and natural resources now, we can ensure a secured ecological system in the time to come”. He also paid tribute to WWF and its collaborators, by terming it “the right hand of Forest Department” in conservation of forests and the whole natural environment in Gilgit-Baltistan.
via Press Release
Ismailimail 