TAXILA: A state of the art modern Environmental Centre was inaugurated at District Public School and College Attock on Friday as the district marked World Environment Day in a befitting manner, with a renewed commitment to promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices among the younger generation.

Attock Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza, formally inaugurated the centre during a ceremony attended by Deputy Director Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Attock Dr Rabia Nausheen, government officials, educators, students, and representatives of civil society.

Following the inauguration, the officials visited an environmental exhibition organised by students, featuring innovative models, charts, and awareness material highlighting key issues such as climate change, afforestation, pollution control, water conservation, waste management, and environmental sustainability.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest Rao Atif Raza praised the students for their creativity and commitment to environmental protection, emphasising that creating environmental awareness among youth is essential for ensuring a sustainable future.

“World Environment Day reminds us that the protection of our natural resources, including land, water, and air, is a collective responsibility,” he said. “Environmental challenges such as climate change, deforestation, air pollution, plastic waste, and water scarcity are affecting communities across the globe, with developing countries bearing the brunt of their consequences,” he said.

Mr Raza noted that rising global temperatures, increasing frequency of floods, droughts, and heatwaves, along with the alarming growth of plastic waste and urban refuse, pose serious threats to both environmental and human well-being.

He observed that Pakistan faces a range of environmental challenges, including rapid population growth, limited forest cover, air pollution caused by industrial and vehicular emissions, inadequate waste management systems, and the growing impact of climate-induced natural disasters.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026