CHITRAL: Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) has wrapped up a major three-day eco-campaign at the Shandur Polo Festival to help protect the region’s fragile alpine environment from waste left by tourists, focusing on cleanliness, proper waste disposal, wildlife protection as well as tackling the growing garbage problem at the world’s highest polo ground.

Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, SLF regional programme manager Jamiullah Sherazi said that Shandur was famous for its breathtaking views and its annual polo match between Gilgit and Chitral teams, attracting thousands of local and international tourists every year.

He said that Shandur was a vital habitat for rare animals like the snow leopard, brown bear and ibex, also serving as a crucial grazing pasture for the livestock of the Laspur community, while a massive rush of visitors brought a heavy burden of trash to the place.

“Tourists leave behind large amounts of plastic packaging and disposable items, and this unmanaged waste ruins the natural beauty of the area. Even worse, it poses threats to both local livestock and wild animals, and the debris can easily disrupt the delicate ecological balance of this sensitive mountain home,” he said.

Mr Sherazi said that in response to the crisis, the SLF launched its targeted three-day campaign right at the festival’s heart. “The green initiative was a team effort and brought together the wildlife department, the district administration of Upper Chitral and the volunteers from community-based conservation groups in Laspur.”

“Together, these teams walked through the festival grounds and visited local shopkeepers, makeshift hotel owners, and busy camping sites.

They educated the public about smart waste management and personal environmental duties and reminded visitors that Shandur was a shared home for endangered wildlife and local herders,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2026