Sixth Pakistan Mountain Festival begins with rock climbing

Islamabad: The 6th Pakistan Mountain Festival kicked off on Saturday with the youth rock climbing at the Jasmin Corner, Daman e Koh, in the Margalla Hills National Park.

Junya Matsuura, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, and Shaaref Munir, president Islamabad Devcom Centennial Leo Club were the Guests of Honour.

The festival is the annual flagship event of the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) to commemorate the International Mountain Day. Several events are organised in the weeklong festival to raise awareness about the importance of mountains and to mainstream the mountain culture and products.

The rock climbing event was organized in collaboration with the Adventure Club to provide youth an opportunity to explore their potential to challenge the rough environment. The youth from different educational institutions participated in the event. The experienced youth enjoyed the climbing while the new ones were given the basic lessons on the climbing.

Speaking on the occasion, Junya Matsuura, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, said the rock climbing nurture the challenging nature in youth. It is a wonderful sport to prepare youth to meet the harsh and wild environment. The climbing makes youth strong and confident, he said.

Shaaref Munir, president Islamabad Devcom Centennial Leo Club, said nature brings true spirit of life in youth. We need to provide ample opportunities to youth to live close in mountains to know the mystery of wilderness. Mountain climbing inculcates spirit to fight against the odds and love for the nature. “Margalla Hills National Park is full of natural diversity that is a great treasure for the locals and nature lovers. Unfortunately, the stone crushers and housing mafia are destroying the National Park. Despite of the Court orders, the illegal and environment unfriendly practices are on that need to be noticed by the concerned authorities,” he said.

One of the participants, Maham Tariq said rock climbing is an adventure sport that boost the confidence and prepare the climber for untoward situations. Kiran Khan, another participant, was of the view that the climbing was healthy exercise that makes the bodies strong, and mentally sharp to avoid risks.

Saba Nazir, said parent usually don’t give permission to their daughters so easily though the rock climbing is a health sport. Girls shall be given equal opportunities play ever sort of sports. Annie Shahzad said the adventure sports shall be part of the regular curricula. Every school, college and university shall encourage their students to take part in such kind of activities.

Tahir Imran Khan, president of the Adventure Club, said they have thin opportunities to engage youth in adventure sports. “There is no patronage and funds available from the government. The non-governmental organisations are trying to promote in the adventure sports on self-help basis. Whatever meagre opportunities arise, they are taken up by the undeserving children of the Alpine Club of Pakistan. Recently, the Secretary Alpine Club sent his son and nephew to a wall-climbing competition in China with three-member staff. The untrained children could win the two bottom positions, he said asking the concerned government authorities to probe the matter, and take back the funds from the undue beneficiaries,” he added.

Munir Ahmed, Director Pakistan Mountain Festival and Executive Director Devcom-Pakistan, said the festival has grown to the world’s largest one to commemorate the International Mountain Day in the previous two years. “This year we see very thin response from the development partners and government organizations. We still believe in the potential of the festival in mainstreaming the challenges being faced by our mountains, its culture and products too,” he added.

“Environmental hazards in the highlands have direct link with poverty in the area. We believe that to tackle challenges of climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss, sustainable livelihood and solid waste management in Pakistan’s high lands require political will, mobilization of key stakeholders, sensitization of public and engagement of the communities for reducing vulnerability and the efficient management of natural resources. Therefore, there was a need to establish a forum that could play a junction for the mountain communities especially youth and women, development partners and experts, government departments, donors, private sector and other stakeholders to interact with each other,” he added.

Pakistan Mountain Festival has filled in the gap where all stakeholders interact in frank and open environment to discuss the issues facing the mountain communities, land and its natural resources. It shall also help in mainstreaming the mountain culture and products, and shall be a platform to review the way forward annually to implement the policies and plans of action, Munir said.