“I am drained, as I had a lot of work to do at the office,” Areeba told her best friend, Yumna.

“Yes, same!” Yumna wailed.

“I think we should take a break from this hectic routine,” Areeba added.

“Oh yes, let’s take a trip to Gilgit. What do you say? We will enjoy and reconnect with nature. Plus, we can go to Fairy Meadows. My colleagues said this place is surreal and beautiful,” Yumna explained with excitement.

“That is an amazing idea. Let me call a tour planner I know, and get our flights and hotels booked!” Areeba assured her friend and hang up the phone to quickly get started on her plan.

Both Yumna and Areeba were in their mid-twenties and were working. So it was easy for them to manage things on their own, without taking financial assistance from their parents.

A couple of days later, the girls were off to Gilgit. Once they landed in Gilgit, they could hardly believe their eyes -- the breathtaking surroundings and the crisp, fresh air were unlike anything they had ever experienced. Both friends felt a sense of freedom and elation as they stood surrounded by majestic mountains. Before checking into their hotel, they decided to visit a nearby valley, eager to explore the beauty around them.

“Wow! The fresh air feels so liberating,” Areeba closed her eyes and felt the beauty around her.

“The air is fresh just because of trees. These green giants have natural filters that trap dust and smoke, hence improving the air quality. What would happen in the world without them?” Yumna thoughtfully spoke.

After spending some time, the girls decided to go to their hotel and take some rest. The next day, they hired a jeep to embark on their adventure towards Fairy Meadows. As they set off, they quickly realised that the jeep track was rough and challenging, with potholes and rocky terrain making the journey bumpy. The vehicle swayed as it navigated the treacherous path, but their excitement only grew with each jolt, knowing that the stunning beauty of Fairy Meadows awaited them.

At last, they reached a point where the jeep could not go any further, and from there, they had to trek. The path was quite rocky, but with each step, their excitement to behold the scenic place grew. The river flowed beside the mountains, adding to the coolness and scenic beauty of the air. After an hour of tracking, the friends decided to rest under a tree.

“Indeed, nature is the best thing on this planet. Coming here was a wonderful idea, Yumna. The city’s hustle and bustle stress us out so much that we don’t realise that there is so much beauty and calmness in the world,” Areeba reflected, to which Yumna agreed.

Then the friends continued their journey and reached their destination. To their horror, they stared at the meadow they had made so much effort to arrive at. Where there should have been trees, there were cottages and huts made from the wood. Where there should have been the name ‘Fairy Meadows’ on the welcome board, there was a hotel’s name written. They saw kids playing, but wrappers, bottles and other garbage had been carelessly thrown around. They could clearly see that there was no proper garbage disposal setup!

Both friends stood agape, watching how more huts were being constructed.

A man came to them and said, “Hi! Welcome to Fairy Meadows. How many rooms do you require?”

Yumna glanced at the man and said in a serious tone, “Fairy Meadow? A meadow is a place covered with grass and trees, but this meadow is covered with huts.”

The man didn’t show any sign of embarrassment. In fact, he indifferently started walking away. Yumna called him and asked if they could meet the hotel’s owner.

The man gazed at her and replied, “He is a busy man, but right now he is inspecting the construction site, so you can go and check for yourselves!”

Both girls walked to the construction site, which was some steps away. After asking from a worker, they found the owner and addressed him,

“Hello! I and my friend came all the way from Karachi to Fairy Meadows to spend some time in the midst of trees and hear the chirping of birds, not the noise of construction and machines. You are contributing to the destruction of wildlife and the greenery! Don’t you know how vital trees are for the environment?” a heartbroken Yumna said to him.

“Look lady! Cutting down some of these trees can generate significant revenue not only for us, but for the country as well. We can build more cottages and attract more tourists, ultimately boosting the local businesses,” the owner calmly responded.

“Okay. What about the environment? Didn’t you think about it? These trees are vital for maintaining fresh air and supporting native wildlife! Destroying them for profit is short-sighted and wrong. We should be preserving this beautiful landscape, not exploiting it! If we destroy the environment, we won’t just lose fresh air; we jeopardise our very existence! The air we breathe is polluted by smoke from factories. It is these trees that purify it for us, in addition to maintaining the environment and providing habitats to countless species.

“We should be investing in conservation, not destruction! Protecting these trees is not just about preserving beauty; it’s about ensuring a sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come. I am definitely not saying that tourism should finish. Why can’t we preserve our environment while also promoting tourism? These green giants are the reason we are still alive. Destruction of trees is the destruction of humanity and you are playing a part in this destruction,” Yumna’s words were strong and impactful.

The owner felt embarrassed. He realised that everything Yumna said was true, so he remained silent for a while and said, “Ladies, I am deeply impressed by your concern, but see, it is not just me who is involved in the state of things here, there are other influential people also involved. But I will try my best to minimise the harmful effects of construction and will promote growing more trees to replace the ones that are being cut,” the owner said.

“It is good that you realised this, but you should take steps sooner in order to save the trees and environment,” grumpy Areeba replied.

Just a few weeks later, as Yumna opened the newspaper back home, she came across an advertisement introducing a new vision for a hotel in Fairy Meadows, focusing on eco-tourism and conservation. The ad highlighted that the newly-constructed hotel aimed to educate guests about the importance of trees and environmental preservation, ensuring that the beauty of Fairy Meadows could be enjoyed by future generations. It mentioned weekly, free-of-cost training sessions and lectures for guests. Moreover, it was mandatory for every guest to plant a tree, with saplings provided free of charge.

Yumna was overjoyed and immediately called Areeba to share the news. Both friends felt incredibly happy and relieved to see such a meaningful initiative.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 1st, 2025