ISLAMABAD:
Environmental leaders, policymakers, conservationists and legal experts have emphasized the urgent need to safeguard one of Pakistan’s most important ecological assets, the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), while ensuring that environmental laws and land use regulations are effectively implemented.
They were speaking at a webinar held to discuss the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision on the Margalla Hills National Park and the implications of the ongoing review petition before the Federal Constitutional Court.
The event, organized by Devcom-Pakistan on Monday, focused on three critical aspects of the Supreme Court ruling including protection and conservation of the environment, addressing environmental pollution and addressing encroachments within the Margalla Hills National Park. Participants emphasized that the case represents a watershed moment for environmental governance in Pakistan and has broader implications for conservation policy and constitutional jurisprudence.
Speakers included former Prime Minister’s Advisor on Environment and Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Khan, WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan, former Pak-EPA Director General and environmental expert Asif Shuja Khan, Shakir Toor, Dr Pervez Hassan, Dr Amir Haider, environmental defense expert Ali Jabir, Naseer Gilani, former CDA Director General Dr Sarwar Sandhu, Munir Ahmed and others.
Malik Amin Aslam reflected on the importance of the Supreme Court’s decision, which reaffirmed the importance of environmental protection and called for the elimination of encroachments and illegal activities that threaten the integrity of the national park.
He also discussed concerns related to environmental pollution and inadequate management of facilities operating in and around the protected area. He highlighted the importance of improving waste management systems and ensuring that commercial activities do not compromise the ecological characteristics of the park.
