Aga Khan Planning and Building Service Pakistan, in an attempt to create a deeper understanding of the crucial importance of environment, conceptualised an art competition titled, 'Friends of the Environment' at a hotel here on Tuesday.
The objective of the event was to encourage youth to participate in a fun activity, while simultaneously raising awareness about the importance of the natural environment, the methods of preserving it, and planning to build environment accordingly.
Youth from across Pakistan, in the age group between nine to 20 years were encouraged to participate in this activity. Around 40,000 students from different parts of the country submitted their drawings in this competition.
The contest was divided into three different stages with initiation at local level with short-listed paintings being promoted to a regional and national level competition respectively.
At the ceremony, the top 10 paintings, short-listed by the artist of national repute, were placed on display for the public. The successful artists also performed live paintings at the event to inspire the attendees.
, Chief guest Iqbal Walji, President Aga Khan Council for Pakistan addressed the gathering. He said: "In the experience of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the challenge of improving environmental conditions lies not in an inherent conflict between man and nature, but in the penury of natural resources that often forces people to consume the few assets available to them."
"These conditions often create a downward spiral that results in deeper poverty, depleted soils, deforested hills, polluted water, disease, and ultimately, despair," he said.
"The reasons for this cycle are complex and in many instances require integrated, multidisciplinary solutions. Ecological concerns have always been part of the ethical underpinnings of the Network, rooted as they are in the Quran's exhortation for man to be a good steward of the Earth," he said.
"The solutions to environmental problems cannot be implemented in isolation from the problems of human habitats. All of the environment-related activities undertaken by the AKDN are therefore integrated into other development activities such as healthcare, education, cultural revitalisation and economic development," he said.
The chief guest appreciated the work. He said that it is expected 'Friends of the Environment' inspired the participants, their parents. All those involved to imagine a better future for themselves and for the society as a whole, where everyone not only cares about his own wellbeing, but contributes towards the welfare of the society and the environment creating a synergistic and symbiotic relationship between the environment, society and its inhabitants.
In his concluding remarks, Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan (AKPBSP) Chairman Hafiz Sherali said: "The kind of paintings that we see here does not only reflect the artistic abilities of our youth but also lights a candle of hope to live in a healthy environment."
"Friends of Environment was focussed on raising mass awareness about environment, which has emerged as one of the recent pressing challenges. These issues are not only creating severe threats for the mother earth but are also affecting our health, personality, attitudes mental growth and directly influence our quality of life," he said.
AKDN institutions have been working on a number of initiatives to improve the quality of the environment. Some of the major initiatives include Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Fund for the Environment, rehabilitation of Altit and Baltit forts in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Beautification of Al-Azhar Garden in Egypt, water-harvesting projects in Syria and India, water and sanitation projects and promotion of indoor air improving technologies for rural population in Pakistan, and promotion of eco-tourism and rehabilitation of the Mausoleum of Humayun in India.
The event was attended by officials of federal and local government, senior leaders of the AKDN, corporate leaders, members of civil society, artist community and media representatives.-PR
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