Walking trails to be reopened today

Islamabad : The walking trails would be reopened for visitors today (Saturday) after closure for some time due to a number of fire incidents in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP).

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) held a detailed meeting and reviewed the arrangements to ensure no human-triggered fire incidents happen in the future.

An official said “We have evaluated the situation and come to the decision that there is a need to further increase the monitoring especially in those areas that attract visitors and trekkers.”

It is pertinent to mention here that IWMB has deputed fifty guards that would round-the-clock monitor the areas falling in the vicinity of the MHNP.

According to the details, the visitors would not be allowed to carry cigarettes, matchboxes or a lighter while trekking on the walking trails. The guards will register everything they would bring with them like water bottles and all of them would have to be produced at the exit point.

The notice boards carrying new instructions have been placed at different locations for awareness of the visitors. The number of guards at entry and exit points has also been increased by the administration.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has also actively started playing its role in the efforts to thwart fire incidents. The IWMB and CDA officials have held a number of meetings to ensure all required equipment and machinery is available at the right locations to deal with any fire incident.

It is due to the importance of the forest area of MHNP now four authorities are making efforts to preserve and protect it including IWMB, CDA, Islamabad District Administration, and the climate change ministry.

The IWMB is also in the process to finalise its report about recent fire incidents and it would also contain recommendations for all relevant authorities to thwart fire incidents in the Margalla Hills.