International Environment Day

To highlight sustainable tourism related environmental issues and to celebrate International Environment Day, SDPI in collaboration with Sungi Development Foundation, Community Association for Sustainable Development of Murree Areas (QASMA), New Murree, a broad network of local organizations of Murree Area arranged a peaceful walk on Tuesday, 5th June 2007 from Jheeka Gali to the Mall, Murree.

200-250 persons, including women and children, from local communities participated in the nearly three-kilometer walk. They carried banners and placards, inscribed with slogans and demands highlighting environmental issues.

Representatives of civil society organizations addressed the participants of the walk. Prominent among the speakers were Mr. Amjad Nazir, Sungi Development Foundation, Mr.Sheikh Mukhtar Adil, Chairman Asas group of newspapers, Mr.Waqar Ali Abbasi, Coordinator Mehac Trust, Mr.Shifa ul Haq, President Murree Horticulture Association, Mr. Sardar Mohammad Siddique, President Rotary Club Islamabad, Mr.Mohammad Ishaq, President forest committee, Ms. Ifshan Adil, Member Tehsil Council, Mr.Chaudry Furqan, President Private Schools, Murree, Ms. Faiza, Coordinator NRSP, Murree, Mr.Asif Ali Hamdani, Chairman Awam International Trust, Ms. Asia Kausar, General Secretary QASMA and Mr.Saqib Hussian Shah, President QASMA.

The speakers highlighted the following issues, particularly those affecting Murree:

1. Environmental and social impacts of the New Murree project
2. Presence of auto-workshops in the urban areas
3. Role of women and the environment
4. Sale of unhygienic foods at the roadside restaurants
5. Unplanned and unchecked development
6. Deforestation of Murree hills
7. Disconnect between the Government of Pakistan’s tourism policies and the environmental concerns
8. Lack of water and sanitation facilities

The following demands were made:

1. Scrapping the New Murree project
2. Banning auto-workshops in the urban areas of Murree
3. Ensuring provision of safe and clean drinking water
4. Ensuring sustainable development of Murree
5. Promoting and adopting environment-friendly tourism policies
6. Implementing ban on cutting-trees
7. Improving and expanding water and sanitation facilities