Islamabad: Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) Director Munir Ahmed has stressed for protection of mountains from over-exploitation, a news report stated. Ahmed stated that the country’s people will starve in the future if sufficient measures are not taken. He also added that the people of the mountains need to have their concerns addressed, as they won’t be able to protect local resources if they are not safe. He further talked about making the people and mountains resilient to climate change.
Ahmed is also the founder of the Pakistan Mountain Festival and was talking at the Islamabad Youth Hostel as a guest speaker. This lecture was specially organised by the Pakistan Youth Hostels Association (PYHA) for International Mountain Day (IMD).
During the lecture, urbanisation of mountain destinations was also discussed. Ahmed warned that it is not only a threat to biodiversity, but harmful for local culture too. He proposed the development of cultural marketing plans by involving educated youth in microenterprises. He further stressed on issues such as deforestation, glacier depletion, and immigration from mountains.
PYHA was appreciated for its measures regarding awareness about social and environmental issues by National Secretary PYHA Ambassador (R) Qazi Humayun.
