Earth Day clean-up, awareness activity at Rawal Lake

Islamabad:Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), which works under Ministry of Climate Change has dedicated volunteers called Friends of Margallah Hills National Park (FoMHNP) who organised Earth Day 2024 clean-up and awareness activity at Kinara Park, Rawal Lake here. The co-hosts were US Embassy and SMEC supported by IWMB staff. There were student participants from NUST.

This year Earth Day (22nd April 2024) theme is ‘Planet vs Plastics.’ This theme emphasises the need for collective action to repair and heal the planet's ecosystems, combat climate change, and preserve biodiversity. Earth Day holds immense significance as a global initiative to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire action. It provides an opportunity for individuals, communities, organisations, and governments to come together and engage in activities aimed at protecting the planet for current and future generations.

FoMHNP is always aware of growing plastic use and its effects on environment. That is why in routine through our volunteers we create awareness among tourists, visitors and hikers to stop bringing plastic packaging items at various trails at MHNP. IWMB almost four years ago announced 'Zero Plastic Policy' for trails. The volunteers in routine educate visitors about the harmful effects of plastic when they are disposed in the forest environment.

With the assistance of IWMB staff & FoMHNP volunteers the plastic bottles, shoppers and food packaging is controlled to great extent at trails. However, this is not enough, more efforts are required towards education of general public from limited use of plastic to eventually complete moving on to plastic free environment.

Today’s activity was symbolic representation of various organisations joining hands to enforce their commitment towards plastic free planet. At the event Andrew Schofer, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy Islamabad highlighted the effects of plastic on environment and how it is badly creating impact on our day to day life.

Tassadaq Malik, Founding President of FoMHNP while speaking to the participants addressed the efforts made by volunteers and how it has changed positively the mindset of people while developing the ownership for MHNP. He explained that the consistent efforts can bring change which is being demonstrated as a positive impact on MHNP. The two hours activity managed to collect 50 bags of plastic waste from Kinara Park.