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Peace and environment walk held in Karachi

By Our Correspondent

KARACHI: Chitral Heritage and Environmental Preservation Society (CHEPS) organized a walk in Karachi with the aim of projecting the cause of peace and creating awareness about adverse effects of climate change. Chitralis belonging to different walks of life gathered in front of the Quaid’s Mausoleum with banners and placards. Notables of Chitral in Karachi and a large number of Chitrali students studying in different academic institutions participated in the walk. Amir Akbar Khan advocate and President CHEPS Rahmat Ali Jafar Dost led the walk. Other prominent participants included former counselor Muhammad Nazar Chitrali, Hazratuddin, Qurban Seth, Sardar Wali, Noor Wali Shah, Ghulam Muhammad and Engr. Amjad Nadir Taj.

Emblazoned with messages of peace and environmental concerns, the colourful banners were a welcome retreat for the people of Karachi. The walk was a timely venture in the context of the recent spate of suicide bombings in the country and coincided with the recently concluded Copenhagen Accord on climate change. The adverse effects of global climate change are more pronounced in high mountainous areas like Chitral. From the forum of CHEPS, Chitralis living in Karachi conveyed the message that ‘humanity at peace with nature would naturally be at peace with itself’. Only a harmonious relationship with nature would strengthen the bond of love and peace among all human beings. CHEPS plans to plant 2, 00,000 saplings in 2010 which is being celebrated as the international year of biodiversity. The journey thus continues.

According to a Chinese proverb, the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Chitral Heritage and Environmental Preservation Society (CHEPS) took a small step on 23 August last year. With the aim of projecting the cause of peace and creating awareness about adverse effects of climate change, CHEPS started a journey which saw its members advocating peace in conflict-hit Peshawar and projecting clean and green Pakistan in the national capital, Islamabad.

That long and arduous journey which started at Karumbar Lake culminated in a peace and environment walk in Karachi on 2 January 2010.