islamabad - The newly formed Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has awarded certificates to the volunteers who have participated 5 times in the cleanup activities organised at Margalla Hills National Park.

Islamabad is blessed with the beautiful surroundings and the Margalla Hills National Park is the hallmark of its beauty.

There are 6 main hiking trails leading to the top of the Margalla Hills which cater to both serious hikers and occasional visitors like tourists both local and foreigners. These hills besides being home to some unique flora and fauna and various species of wild life are also generating interest of bird watching, rock climbing and paragliding.

Unfortunately, due to apathy of visitors and lack of organisation on the part of the park managers, the hiking trails have become littering grounds. People bring bags full of consumables up the trails and then leave behind plastic shoppers, food and drink containers, bottles and other non-biodegradable materials everywhere in sight. The litter is not only an eye sore and a blot on the reputation of one of the most beautiful capitals of the world, but it also presents an immediate danger to natural environment of the hills. The cities are the representation of the collective consciousness of its citizens, the fact remains that cleanest cities in the world are kept clean by its citizens not by janitors.

Desperate from this lack of awareness from the people and administration, a group of volunteers have taken up the task of cleaning the Margalla Hills’ Trail - 6 on their own; collecting garbage left behind by others and bringing it to the nearest disposal area. The group is not large in numbers but consists of active volunteers who have raised the awareness on social media and are in parallel trying to invoke a response by the Authorities.  The volunteers maintain a Facebook page “Clean - Islamabad Hiking Trails.”

The newly formed Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) in recognition of the group’s efforts awarded certificates to the selected members who have participated 5 times in the cleanup activities organised by the group. The group members removed thousands of bottles, shoppers, plastic containers from trail 6. It took them 6 weeks of almost daily activity to remove litter. The certificates are distributed at Trail - 6 (Twin Trees Point) by the Chairman IWMB Dr Anis ur Rehman to Irfan Siddique, Hafizullah Khan, Shoaib Ahmad Khan, Khalida Habib, Tassadaq Malik, Zahida and Salaar.

While addressing on the occasion Dr Anis applauded the efforts of the group. He mentioned that educating the citizens regarding civic sense is imperative to achieve long term results. He assured the participants that newly formed IWMB is committed to improve the situation regarding cleanliness and deforestation of the Margalla Hills National Park.