ISLAMABAD, Jun 5 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday called on the world to fight back for ecosystem restoration during the next decade and particularly retold the rich countries to assist the poor ones bearing the brunt of their immense carbon emissions.
“Pakistan has minimal contribution in carbon emission. The rich countries responsible for huge carbon emission have the responsibility to at least provide fund so that the countries like ours may fight global warming, improve our environment. The issue is resources gap,” he said addressing the main ceremony of World Environment Day hosted by Pakistan here.
Telecast globally, the event featured the special messages of Chinese President Xi Jinping, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and address by Executive Director of the UN Environment Program Inger Anderson besides State Minister Zartaj Gul and SAPM Amin Aslam.
Held at the beautifully adorned Convention Center with themed green and themed ambience by plants and decorations, the event was attended by the federal ministers, parliamentarians and diplomats from various countries.
A huge number of forest guards was also present who earned huge applause from the audience as the prime minister also paid huge tribute to their efforts and sacrifices to preserve the environment.
Explaining the resource constraints in Pakistan, the prime minister said during the pandemic, Pakistan with a population of 220 million could only scrape around $8 billion for relief package while 330 million nation of United States doled out a package of 4,000 billion to its people.
He told the world that half of Pakistan’s revenue went to debt servicing leaving the government with insufficient resources to support people’s health, education, security and other expenditures.
He reiterated that the resource rich countries should support the developing countries who were fighting the war of climate change. He particularly thanked the UNEP and UN Secretary General for repeatedly pressing the rich countries to take their carbon responsibilities.
He said Pakistan was also making efforts to further reduce its already minimal emissions by switching 30% of its all vehicles to electric transmission and ensure 60% of its power generation through renewable resources by 2030.
He said it was an honor for Pakistan to host World Environment Day which depicted the recognition of Pakistan’s efforts and inclusion among few countries concerned for a better environment for future generations.
The prime minister also urged the nation particularly youth to take responsibility of the environment friendly initiatives so that the world could fight back for ecosystem restoration during UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.
He said like the developing countries, the teachers in Pakistan should also teach the importance of trees to inculcate in them the responsibility for environment conservation.
He while carrying out any activity, the people must consider its impact on future generations, though some countries had been taking care of their environment since the beginning.
He said unfortunately Pakistan was among those countries where environment protection was nowhere among the government’s priorities. He recalled that since its inception till launch of On Billion Tree Tsunami in KP in 2013, the country had planted only 640 million trees.
However, the PTI government, after success of One Billion Tree Tsunami, launched Ten Billion Tree Tsunami and also planted first billion of them.
He lamented the massive deforestation particularly at the Chhanga Manga, Kundian, Chichawatni and Dipalpur forests where the land mafias had occupied the forest land.
He said the UN Decade was an opportunity for the world to correct its course by fighting back the pollution, ensure clean water and reduced carbon emissions.
He seconded UK Prime Minister’s words that the future generations would have to bear the cost if we failed to protect environment.
He said apart from measures introduced by Pakistan, some issues needed world’s attention to reduce carbon emission leading to glacier melting posing threats to countries like Pakistan and Central Asia where rivers were fed by glaciers.
The prime minister said COVID-19 pandemic had made it clear that the world was interdependent with nothing bound by borders. Same was the case with global warming which was equally impacting the world in one way or the other, he added.
He said the whole nation would have to realize that tree plantation was good for their children’s future which retain water, clean air, and restore wildlife and birdlife.
He apprised the gathering of his government’s future initiatives including Recharge Pakistan – to divert flood water to wetland to recharge water table and Mangroves forestation which absorb carbon besides others.
He repeatedly called for public participation in the environment projects to make them stakeholders by giving them jobs and incentives, just like the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami which had provided 85,000 jobs so far.
He said the government had developed 15 National Parks and special guards would be trained for their protection.
He particularly lauded Punjab government for converting brick kilns to zigzag technology to reduce their pollution level.
State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul said having planted first billion trees, the government was fully prepared to plant rest nine billion trees.
The government was also about to launch a food security program for South Punjab besides introducing a bill to encourage the youth’s participation in tree plantation by giving them an incentive of 20 marks in their studies, she added.
SAPM Malik Amin Aslam said Pakistan had made a commitment to restore 10 hectares of land and was also increased the protected areas by engaging the population.
He also highlighted the Green Bond and Nature Bond initiatives of Pakistan to provide the country with accelerated access to development financing and debt relief in exchange for meeting ecosystem restoration targets.
Earlier, in his message read out by Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated the government and people of Pakistan for hosting the global event.
He said the ecosystem restoration was essential in order to live in harmony with nature. He called for international community’s role for environmental protection and ensure the sustainable development.
Reiterating China’s commitment to environment preservation, Xi appreciated Government of Pakistan for environment friendly initiatives and said that his country was ready to work with the host country on the subject.
Prime Minister of UK Boris Johnson, in his video message also spoke high of Ten Billion Tree Tsunami project saying “I salute what Prime Minister Imran Khan is doing. I think 10 billion trees is a huge campaign,” he remarked.
He viewed that the COVID-19 pandemic was mother nature’s revenge on humankind which could not maintain balance with nature. He called for redoubling the efforts to ensure environment protection and make a balance with nature.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in his video message, said the world was rapidly reaching the point of no return for the planet.
He said the world was faced with a triple environmental emergency –biodiversity loss, climate disruption and escalating pollution.
He said the climate change was risking the world in form of shortage food, water and resources as the degradation of the natural world was already undermining the well-being of 3.2 billion people – or 40 per cent of humanity.
He said the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration would help create millions of new jobs by 2030, generate returns of over $7 trillion dollars every year and help eliminate poverty and hunger.
“So let today be the start of new decade in which finally we make peace with nature and secure a better future for all,” he remarked.
Executive Director UNEP Inger Anderson said the UN Decade was aimed at reversing the damages caused by the world to the environment.
“Pakistan is showing us a way. Prime Minister Imran Khan recently planted one billionth tree of Ten Billion Tree Tsunami. Bravo to all,” he remarked.
She said the test for Pakistan and all nations was to build the momentum and fulfil their commitment.
Referring to an analysis of Pakistan’s growing inclusive wealth due to forestation, she said Pakistan’s economy was moving on right direction.
She urged Pakistan to keep delivering on its ambitious commitments and encouraged all other nations to follow Pakistan’s leadership and make this decade a roaring success.
President Word Economic Forum Borge Brende said the more than half of the world’s GDP was highly dependent with the nature. He said by 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people would suffer absolute water scarcity and two-thirds of the world will be living under water shortages.
He said the UN Decade was set to unleash a global ecopreneurship for a ecosystem restoration. He said the WEF offered youth leaders and innovators of all natures an opportunity to share their best solution for ecosystem restoration.
The event also featured the musical performance of artists from Balochistan on theme song of World Environment Day as well as Abrarul Haq who thrilled the audience through his hymn “Tere Rang Rang.”
Lalak Jan the living hero of this
land can never be forgotten. The legend was a Havaldar in the Pakistan Army who
was in the Northern Light Infantry regiment during the Kargil battle fought
between Pakistan and India from May to July 1999. Lalak Jan lost his temporary life
in the war but gained forever life eternally and also in the heart of the
people. And he was awarded Pakistan’s
highest rank military award, Nishan-e-Haider. Today on his death anniversary
people are paying tributes to him. It has been almost 22 years of his death but
he is living in the heart of Pak-army and all the nation. As ISPR has paid
homage to Lalak Jan on his great day.
ISPR stated that: “Nation
pays homage to Havaldar Lalak Jan, NH, who laid his life defending the
motherland against (great) odds in most challenging battlefield environment
during the Kargil conflict on 7 July 99. His fortitude and selflessness will
keep inspiring the indomitable defenders of Pak for times to come.”
Lalak Jan belonged to Gilgit Baltistan but he is the legend of the nation. Indeed Lalak Jan can never be replaced by anyone but there are many Lalak Jan for our piece of land. We are one nation (AikQaum), we are Pakistanis.
Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed had fought no less than an
invader during the Kargil war at the Line of Control. He defended five strategic
posts and countered the continuous attack by chasing and raids.
The face of bravery was born on the 1st of
January 1970. He belonged to the land of
Swabi in KPK and from there he completed his intermediate from Government
Post-Graduate College Swabi and then joined Pakistan Army. He was commissioned
in the 27th Sind Regiment on 14 October 1994. Captain Karnal Sher Khan emerged
as the symbol of mettle and courage during the Kargil conflict at the Line of
Control. He set up personal examples of bravery and inflicted heavy losses on
the enemy.
He defended five
strategic posts, which he established with his soldiers at the height of 17,000
feet in the Gultary area. On 5 July 1999, Indians, with the help of two
battalions, managed to capture some portion of one of his posts. Despite facing
all odds, he led a counter-attack and re-captured the lost portion. Captain
Karnal Sher Khan also chased the enemy and conducted many raids in the enemy
area. During one such raid, he went inside the enemy camp where he inflicted
heavy losses. During the battle, he received a burst of fire in the chest and
embraced ‘SHAHADAT’ on 5 July 1999.
He was awarded Nishan-e-Haider for all his bravery. The notion of all martyrs is well described in this verse:
“Ham Haq Par Jan
Lutayan Ga Ham Shoq-e-Shahadad Wala Hay
Wo Sath Hamara Tarak
Karda Jo Mout Sa Darnay wala Hay.”
The Markhor, Pakistan’s national animal, is a symbol of the country’s natural beauty, resilience, and strength. With its striking, spiral horns and graceful stature, the Markhor is one of the most distinctive and remarkable wild goats found in the mountainous regions of northern and western Pakistan. As a creature of both cultural significance and ecological importance, the Markhor represents Pakistan’s commitment to preserving its wildlife and natural heritage.
Physical Characteristics: Nature’s Masterpiece
The Markhor is renowned for its majestic, corkscrew-shaped horns, which can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length in males. These horns are its most striking feature and distinguish it from other wild goats. The animal’s name, “Markhor,” is believed to be derived from the Persian words “Mar” (snake) and “Khor” (eater), referring to the belief that the animal has the ability to kill or fight off snakes, though this is more folklore than fact.
Male Markhors are larger than females, and their horns are more prominent and elaborately twisted. They also have a longer coat, especially during the colder months, with a thick beard that gives them a regal appearance. Females, while smaller and with less prominent horns, are equally agile and graceful.
Habitat: Mountainous Majesty
The Markhor thrives in rugged, mountainous terrains at elevations ranging from 600 to 3,600 meters (1,970 to 11,800 feet). It is primarily found in the northern and western regions of Pakistan, particularly in the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Karakoram mountain ranges. The provinces of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and parts of Balochistan serve as key habitats for these wild goats.
Adapted to the harsh, rocky landscapes of these regions, the Markhor is a skilled climber, able to traverse steep cliffs and narrow ridges with ease. This agility not only helps it evade predators but also aids in foraging for food in difficult terrain.
Conservation Status: A Story of Recovery
The Markhor was once on the brink of extinction, largely due to illegal hunting, habitat loss, and competition with domestic livestock. By the late 20th century, its population had dwindled alarmingly, and the species was classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
In response, the government of Pakistan, along with international conservation organizations, launched several initiatives to protect the Markhor. Strict hunting regulations were imposed, and community-led conservation programs were introduced. These efforts have been remarkably successful, leading to a gradual recovery in the Markhor population. In 2015, the IUCN downgraded the Markhor’s status from “endangered” to “near-threatened,” recognizing the positive impact of conservation efforts.
One of the most successful conservation models has been the community-based trophy hunting program. Local communities are given a quota for limited hunting permits, which are auctioned to international hunters. A significant portion of the revenue generated goes back to the local communities, providing them with a financial incentive to protect the Markhor and its habitat.
Cultural and National Significance
The Markhor holds a special place in the cultural and national identity of Pakistan. As the country’s national animal, it represents the resilience, strength, and beauty of Pakistan’s wilderness and people. Its unique appearance and ability to survive in challenging environments resonate with the values of courage and endurance.
In local folklore, the Markhor is often seen as a creature with mystical powers. The spiral horns are sometimes viewed as a symbol of wisdom and leadership, reflecting the Markhor’s status as the “king” of the mountain goats. Additionally, the animal is associated with bravery and strength, qualities that align with the spirit of Pakistan.
The image of the Markhor is also featured prominently in various emblems and logos throughout Pakistan, including the insignia of the Pakistan Army’s elite Special Services Group (SSG). Its representation in official symbols highlights the national pride and reverence the country has for this majestic animal.
Behavior and Diet: A Survivor of Harsh Environments
Markhors are primarily herbivores, feeding on grasses, leaves, and shrubs, depending on the season. During the summer, they graze on a variety of plants found in the high-altitude meadows. In the winter months, when food is scarce, they move to lower altitudes, foraging for any available vegetation, including leaves, twigs, and bark.
They are social animals, often found in small herds, typically consisting of females and their young. Males tend to be solitary, except during the mating season, when they join the herds to compete for mates. The rutting season, which occurs in the winter, is marked by intense competition among males, with dramatic horn clashes that can last for hours.
Challenges and Future of the Markhor
Despite the success of conservation efforts, the Markhor still faces significant challenges. Habitat loss due to deforestation, expanding agriculture, and infrastructure development continues to threaten the regions where they live. Additionally, climate change poses a long-term risk, potentially altering the ecosystems that support the Markhor.
Continued conservation efforts are crucial to ensuring the long-term survival of the Markhor. Sustainable management of its habitat, strict enforcement of anti-poaching laws, and ongoing community involvement in conservation programs are all vital to maintaining and expanding the Markhor population.
Conclusion: A Symbol of Pakistan’s Natural Heritage
The Markhor is more than just a wild goat; it is a symbol of Pakistan’s natural beauty and the country’s commitment to preserving its unique wildlife. Its recovery from the brink of extinction is a testament to the power of conservation and the importance of protecting the natural world for future generations. As Pakistan’s national animal, the Markhor stands as a proud representation of the country’s strength, resilience, and rich ecological heritage.
To see the Markhor thriving in the mountains of northern Pakistan is to witness nature at its most magnificent—a reminder of the beauty that still exists in our world and the responsibility we all share to protect it.
