RAWALPINDI: The International Day for Biological Diversity and the International Day of the Markhor were celebrated through a joint event organised by the Snow Leopard Foundation, the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, and Fatima Jinnah Women University.

A large number of students, faculty members from the Department of Environmental Sciences, and government officials attended the event.

Director of Biodiversity at Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, Naeem Ashraf Raja, said in his address that biodiversity in Pakistan is not merely a natural heritage; it is the very foundation of our food, water, and climate stability.

He urged the younger generation to understand the environment around them and take its protection as their own responsibility.

He noted that Pakistan is among those rare countries that nature has blessed with extraordinary richness, and that its biodiversity is recognised and spoken of across the world.

He added that institutions like the climate change ministry and the Snow Leopard Foundation are actively working to promote and protect this biodiversity, which is a promising sign for the future.

He also highlighted that this year’s special message is about local actions with global impact, and called on everyone to play their role in promoting, raising awareness about, and safeguarding Pakistan’s biodiversity.

Former Inspector General of Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, Dr Syed Mehmood Nasir, drawing on his years of field experience, said that Pakistan’s glaciers, forests, and mountain valleys are under severe pressure today.

He stressed that conservation is neither easy nor quick, but if it is not started, the damage can become irreversible.

He reminded the audience that Pakistan is home to rare species such as the snow leopard and the Markhor, which are found nowhere else in the world, and that protecting them is, in essence, protecting nature itself, something to which we are all connected.

Snow Leopard Foundation Member Board of Directors Ms Amna Zubairi highlighted the steps taken by the Foundation and said that for the first time in Pakistan, the Foundation scientifically estimated the snow leopard population through camera trapping and genetic analysis, a significant milestone in the country’s wildlife conservation history.

She added that efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict have now expanded to 65 valleys, covering approximately 40,000 square kilometres.

The e-poster presentation was also held on the occasion, in which students presented their research on environmental topics.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2026