ISLAMABAD, March 4: In order to spread message of peace, tolerance and brotherhood, 21st annual walk was held at Trek-III at Margalla Hills up to Pir Sohawa under the slogan of ‘National Reconciliation for Positive Change,’ on Sunday.

The event was arranged by different hiking clubs, Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC), Young Doctors Association (YDA), Pakistan Green Task Force and many non-government organisations (NGOs). Principal RMC, Dr Musaddiq Khan inaugurated the walk. Ambassadors of Tunis, Syria, Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Cuba and residents of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad took part in the walk.

The participants started walk on Trek-III from the foothill of Margalla and went to Gokina (Pir Sohawa) covering 5.3 kilometers. The trek was decorated with banners and posters inscribed with messages for peace, environment protection, preservation of water and precautions about hepatitis. District administration and federal police also facilitated the participants by providing water, security and guidance.

Muhammad Shahzad from male category and Marina Khan from female category were the first to reach the finishing point. In paramedical category Asif Kiani led the others. Despite rain and hailstorm, majority of the trekkers reached the finishing point.

Talking to the participants at Gokina, Dr Musaddiq Khan said: “We have to create awareness among our youth about the protection of environment. Youth can spread the message of brotherhood and peace by participating in such kind of activities.

If every citizen takes part in such events, they will be able to keep the doctors away and rush at our hospitals will never be seen again.”

President Green Task Force Dr Jamal Nasir, Prof Dr Shoaib Shafi, Prof Arif Malik, Prof Hamid Hasan, Prof Rizwana Choudhry, Prof Matiullah and others also spoke on the occasion.