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Thursday March 28, 2024

Mountains environmental significance highlighted

By Afshan S. Khan
December 16, 2017

Islamabad: The PNCA Film Club and Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) jointly screened five documentary films with the collaboration of UNDP Pakistan and WWF Pakistan in connection with seventh Pakistan Mountain Festival. The festival is an annual flagship thematic advocacy event of Devcom-Pakistan to mark the International Mountain Day, a day dedicated to mainstreaming the sustainable mountain development and conservation agenda across the globe.

The Ambassador of Nepal in Islamabad Ms. Sewa Lamsal Adhikari was the chief guest while the Austrian Ambassador Dr. Brigitta Blaha and Mr. Kim Jin-wook, Charge d'affairs Embassy of South Korea, were the guests of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Sewa Lamsal Adhikari said Nepal and Pakistan have several cultural commonalities on which the bilateral relationship could be enhanced. Mountains are the one vital phenomenon that can pave a path for joint initiatives to engage the people and expert of both countries.

The ambassador showed her passion to take up participation of the communities and cultural performers from the mountains of Nepal in the future. The Austrian ambassador Dr. Brigitta Blaha said mountains are backbone for the life of all species including human beings whether they live in the highlands or downstream, and the human life, livelihood and existence also depend mainly on the resources these mountains offer to us. Film media vibrantly plays its role in showing the actual situation in the highlands. We shall promote more interventions to highlight the importance of mountain environment and conservation of the mountain resources.

Kim Jin-wook, Charge d'affairs at the Embassy of South Korea in Islamabad, said being a native of mountain area, he can relate the significance of the mountains’ natural resources and the challenges being faced by the mountains across the globe because of the greenhouse gas effect, global warming that causing the climate change. The impact is immense, rapid and intense. The only solution is to reduce carbon emissions and eliminate deforestation and degradation of forests. We need to stress upon the major polluters to pay off for their climate injustice, he concluded.

Speaking on the occasion, Devcom-Pakistan Director and the founding director of Pakistan Mountain Festival Munir Ahmed said, “The films screened today reflect the apathy of the mountains impacted by the climate change. Communities and natural habitats, ecosystems, mountain resources and indigenous cultures are under threat. Men’s migration from the mountains to plains in search of livelihood options would leave no space for communities’ ownership of mountains, and enhance the vulnerability for the women and children left behind in the homes. We need to create options for them by keeping up the natural habitats and ecosystems intact for their sustainable ecotourism, mountaineering, and cultural cohesiveness.”

Aijaz Gul while paying vote of thanks said, Pakistan is blessed with the highest mountain peaks in the world. Mountaineers from all over the world have visited northern parts of the country. In the recent past, there has been decline due to reasons known to all of us. However, things are beginning to move in the positive direction and one can hope that he glories of tourism and tourists are on their way back.

The five films screened included ‘Agli Rutt Ki Dastak’, ‘Deosai’, ‘Central Karokaram National Park’, ‘Margallah Hills National Park’, ‘K2 and The Invisible Footmen.’ We get to see many events, locations and people in these five extraordinary films. We meet Sameena Khayal Baig who set the record of climbing highest peaks. She has brought it to the record that mountain climbing has nothing to do with men folks only.

As we move on to more screenings, we see efforts to protect the survival of Himalayan brown bear. Poachers and hunters have been after it to kill and win. With renewed efforts, the brown bear has not only survived but also increased modestly. The danger still exists for its survival as the greed and the lust of commercial interests supports hunters and poachers. But struggle and uphill battle goes on with international help and support.

‘Central Karokaram National Park’ takes us to a world containing some of the largest glaciers outside the polar-regions. Being the largest protected area, it covers more than 10,000 km in the Karakorum mountain range. The Margallah Hills take us to areas enriched and bestowed with natural beauty which most of us take it for granted as our backyards. How mistaken we are (Read: residents of Islamabad in particular). Situated North of Islamabad, the Margallah hills cover the foothills of Himalayas with resorts like Shakarparian, Daman-e-Koh, Pir Sohawa, Rawal Lake and much more beyond around. Ironical as it sounds, the urban residents only go there to eat. The owners of eateries here have cemented that loud and clear. There is no respect or concern for maintenance, visible with tons and tons of garbage and litter around.

‘K2 and the Invisible Footmen’ is the most touching film from the lot. Lara Lee and the crew show us the life and hardships of Pakistani porters rejoicing on the eve of 60th anniversary of K2. Underneath the dance and melodies you find the pain and torture these porters go through their lifetime.