CHITRAL: Canadian High Commissioner Windy Gilmore on Saturday called for effective steps to address climate change issue and save Chitral region from its devastations in the form of glacial floods, flashfloods and receding glaciers.

Addressing a climate change awareness session during the snow festival here in Madak Lusht village of Sheshi Koh valley, the high commissioner said the second phase of the Glof project executed by the UNDP and climate change ministry had focused attention on the sensitisation of local communities to scale up the process of making them resilient to disasters.

She said her country always supported community-based initiatives and the Hindukush Snow Sports Festival was a perfect example of the community-led initiatives.

The envoy said she and her team enjoyed the festival a lot and looked forward to supporting such events.

“Canada will support Pakistan in developing winter sports and tourism in a responsible manner that doesn’t cause environmental issues and thus, hastening the dreaded phenomenon of climate change,” she said.

Ms Gilmore also called for the participation of women in the disaster risk management programmes and said women should be educated on and trained in the subject to play the due role.

Additional secretary of the climate change ministry Joudat Ayaz said the Glof-II project was crucial for the capacity building of vulnerable communities, while the participation of women and their empowerment would lead to their advantageous input on disaster risk management.

He said the Glof-II project was funded by Green Climate Fund and implemented by UNDP and Ministry of Climate Change in 15 districts of GB and KP.

Special secretary to the chief minister Abdul Khaliq and Glof-II provincial coordinator Fahad Bangash were also present on the occasion.

The women participants highlighted their future role in disaster risk reduction and increase in the people’s resilience to disasters.

The festival attracted lovers of adventure tourism and foreign tourists to the far-off snow-packed area.

The residents warmly welcomed them, including foreigners.

Men, women, youth and children took part in ice hockey, snow trekking and snow sculpture and cartoon contests.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2021