MANSEHRA, Sept 2: The Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, in collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), is conducting a research on natural resource management in Mansehra district.

The research titled "Study of people and resource dynamics in the mountainous watersheds of Pakistani Hindukush-Himalayas" is a regional project being implemented in four of the ICIMOD member countries. They are China, Nepal, India and Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the target area of the project is Hilkot watershed located in district Mansehra, where it is involved in natural resource management and gender and equity issues through participation of various communities.

To highlight the project activities, a women's day programme has been organized in Hilkot on Sept 4. The women activists would be awarded certificates on this occasion.

The participants from various communities of the watersheds would set up stalls of handicrafts, sewing and embroidery, boutiques, fruit and vegetable preservation, pickle, jam, squashes, drawings, local fruits and vegetables.

Dr Tehmina Roohi, Programme Officer of the National Environmental Action Programme, Ministry of Environment, would be the chief guest on this occasion. Besides, about 200 local women of the area with female political representatives of the union council, the programme would be attended by the female representatives from ministry of environment, Islamabad and more than 25 government organizations and NGOs working for the women's uplift.