World Wetland Day Observed in Chitral

Report GH Farooqui, Chitral

The Wetland Program Pakistan celebrated World Wetland Day at Chitral. In this connection, a quiz competition was held among students of different schools and representatives of NGO at Radio Pakistan Chitral, which was broadcast on Monday to spread the message regarding importance of wetlands.

Mohammad Ali, Project Manager of Protected Area Management Project (PAMP), was chief guest on the occasion. Participants of quiz competition were divided into three groups A,B and C. Each group was asked five questions. After completion of stipulated time, Group A comprising students of Terichmir Model High School scored first position while representatives of Northern Citizen Community Board were declared second and group B of Iqra Model School stood third. The chief guest awarded trophy and cup to the winner and runner up along with cash awards.

Hameed Ahmad Mir, Social Mobilizer of Wetland Program for Pakistan, highlighted the importance of wetland for human life and why they celebrated this day. He said they celebrated this day to commemorate the convention held at Ramsar city of Iran in 1971 to protect wetlands of the world and Pakistan is also signatory to that convention. He said some 225 wetland sites have been discovered in Pakistan out of which 19 were given the status of Ramsar. After that every year government agencies, non-government organizations and groups of citizens at all levels have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar convention in particular. The proposed theme for WWD for the year 2009 is Upstream-downstream wetlands connect us all”. He said that Kurumbara Lake is one of the most famous lake of the world situated at Boroghil valley at the altitude of 14,500 feet.

Ahmad said our organization was looking for alternative energy sources in Chitral especially at Boroghil valley where the temperature remains below freezing point. He said we are trying to create awareness among the masses regarding importance of these wetland sites to protect them and to utilize them for human benefits. He said these wetlands consisting of water resources can be a cause of a green revolution in the area if they are utilized properly for human benefits.

Shahzada Ibrahim Pirzada, Chairman of NCCB, highlighted the aims and objectives of this awareness raising campaign. Later, the chief guest while expressing his views stressed upon the masses to protect these wetlands because water is a great gift of Allah Almighty and we should not waste it. He said we should keep our environment clean for the future of our coming generation.