BALDHER is a calm, serene and picture-sque village in Haripur district which is being ruined by rapid urbanisation of rural landscapes. In our desperate race to appear modern, we are systematically destroying the very spaces that serve as our last remaining link to nature. We see fertile green fields in Baldher and surrounding areas being replaced by cold, grey concrete structures and unplanned housing schemes. We are told this is ‘progress’, but true progress does not come at the cost of the Earth that sustains us.

Villages have always been the lungs of our environment, providing a sanctuary of peace and biodiversity. By mimicking the chaotic infrastructure of cities, we are losing our identity, our clean air, and our connection to the soil.

If development means erasing greenery and replacing the trees with mighty plazas, then it is a path to environmental ruin. The government should protect our agricultural land, ensuring that ‘modernisation’ focuses on improving rural healthcare and education rather than just expanding the concrete jungle. We must try our best to preserve the natural soul of our villages.

Noor Bibi
Baldher

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026