Alarm broke out in Islamabad as the city’s scenic Margalla hills witnessed a fire on its military farmland.
While Islamabad residents were worried to see smoke and flames in the hills, visible from the city’s urban settlements, fires breaking out in the Margalla Hills National Park is not a unique occurrence. According to a 2018 report, over 300 incidents of forest fires have been reported at the park in the last 17 years damaging forests and adding to air pollution.
Climate change and the dry terrain have been attributed as causes, the authorities have recently started looking into other factors which can be directly prevented. In this case, it seems likely that it was because of a burning cigarette on dried bushes. The response to fires has also been slow—the hilly terrain makes it difficult to extinguish the fire which is why officials from the environment wing are often called for assistance.
The hills are an integral part of Islamabad; they contribute to the city’s milder climate, as well as its scenic landscape. Damage to the hills and ecosystem can devastate Islamabad’s environment, air quality and standard of life. The fire should propel the authorities to take stricter action to prevent irresponsible activities which risk environmental degradation, as well as prompt faster responses to a breakout.
Two years ago, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) agreed to work together in controlling forest fires, through a proposed plan, where initially seven fire control points will be established in two phases at the Margalla Hills, both in Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas.
Last month, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board banned activities like smoking, bonfires, carrying flammable items and littering at the park given the rising concerns of environmental pollution and loss of habitat. However, the continuation of fires shows that these efforts have not been enough—a comprehensive year-long plan needs to be drafted, with strict implementation.