Chitral Times Report
Chitral : The Shia Ismaili Muslim community in Pakistan has launched a tree plantation drive “Darakht se Hayat” with the aim of protecting the environment. The initiative is part of a global initiative known as Ismaili CIVIC, under which the Shia Ismaili Muslim community around the world has united to serve humanity by rendering service to improve the quality of life of the communities in which they live.
In Pakistan, the inaugural programme under the banner Ismaili CIVIC will focus on the protection of the environment with activities such as tree plantation and related awareness programmes. Today, in Lower Chitral, volunteers from the community planted various kinds of saplings at the Aga Khan Higher Secondary, Seen Lasht. The launch ceremony was attended by Hayat Shah, ADC, Col Mohammad Ali Zafar, Commandant Chitral Scouts, Sonia Shamroz DPO Lower Chitral, Aijaz Khan, Assistant Director Forests, Qazi Salamat, Religious Scholar and other dignitaries were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Hayat Shah, ADC Lower Chitral said, “The government appreciates the efforts of Ismaili CIVIC for planting 60,000 trees in Chitral and for this we are thankful to Ismaili CIVIC. The government will provide all the support to make this campaign successful.”
According to Climate Risk Index 2020, Germanwatch, a sustainable development advocacy group, Pakistan is among 10 countries most affected by climate change in the last 20 years due to its geographical location.
Expressing his views, Riaz Hussain, President, Aga Khan Council for Lower Chitral said, “This is an excellent way for communities to unite under this important initiative to protect the environment and mitigate the risks posed by climate change. Each tree planted contributes towards protecting the environment and society in the future.”
Col. Muhammad Ali Zafar, Commandant Chitral Scout, in his address, mentioned, “To protect the future of our children, we need to focus more on planting trees rather than cutting them. I am thankful to PresidentRiaz who gathered us for this noble cause.”
Another inaugural tree plantation event took place at Garamchashma where Ismaili volunteers planted saplings at Ismaili Council office Garamchashma. It was attended by Captain Salar Chandio, Chitral Scouts, Atta ur Rehman, SHO, Gharamchashma and other local notables.
Over the past six decades, His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, has transformed the quality of life for millions of people around the world. In the areas of health, education, cultural revitalisation, and economic empowerment, he has worked to inspire excellence and improve living conditions and opportunities in some of the world’s most remote and troubled regions.
Ismaili Civic reflects the Shia Ismaili Muslim community’s ethic of civic engagement and good citizenship, exemplifying Islam’s core values of service, peace, compassion and care for the vulnerable.
