GILGIT: Awareness walks, seminars and clean-up campaigns marked the World Environment Day across Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday.

The GB forest, wildlife and environment department in collaboration with the local communities, national and international NGOs and educational institutions organised various programmes across the region.

The parks, wildlife and forest department organised a rally, starting from the Forest and Wildlife Complex in Jutial and ending at Bab-i-Gilgit.

The participants said this year’s theme of the day was ‘ecosystem restoration’. They said GB people were among the world’s most vulnerable communities due to the climate change impact. They said sensitive and fragile environment of the region needed to be protected from environmental degradation.

Events and walks to raise awareness about the impact of climate change and environmental degradation were also held in Diamer, Astore, Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Skardu, Ghanche, Shigar and Kharmang.

The district administration organised a walk in Chalt area under the clean and green Nagar campaign.

The University of Baltistan, Skardu, also held an awareness walk.

GB tourism minister Raja Nasir Hussain, Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Naeem Khan, member GB Assembly Ms Kalsoom Farman, the Skardu deputy commissioner, conservator forest, community leaders, members of civil society and students participated in the walk.

The walk started from Satpara Chowk and ended at the Forest City Park, Skardu.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2021