Pakistan on Saturday joined 184 nations around the world in celebrations marking the tenth edition of Earth hour in a global moment of solidarity for climate change. Landmarks across the country switched off their lights and joined WWF-Pakistan's call to stand with millions of people shining a light on a climate change. In accordance with the true spirit of the event, lights of all important buildings in the federal capital were dimmed at 8:30 pm.
These included the Parliament house building, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Election Commission of Pakistan, Cabinet division building, Convention centre, the Pakistan monument; Damn-e-Koh; Constitution avenue; Jinnah avenue; 7th avenue and 9th Avenue; and Faisal Mosque, providing a powerful visual backdrop in support of Earth Hour 2017.
A ceremony was organised by WWF-Pakistan in collaboration with Bestway cement limited, at the Parliament house building in Islamabad to officially launch Earth Hour 2017 in Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion Rab Nawaz, Senior Director programmes, WWF-Pakistan, said, "Local efforts such as Earth Hour being celebrated in the Parliament house building shows our united commitment to being good stewards of our environment. It's up to us to maintain the momentum for action against climate change. The federal government and all provincial governments; cities; corporate and the people of Pakistan now need to pick up the mantle of leadership on climate change. It's a now or never type of a situation for us."
Leaders and officials present on the occasion showing support included, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting; Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, Secretary, Ministry of Climate change; Nasir Mehmood Afzal, Director, Bestway cement limited(BCL); Nasir Mehmood Raja, Senior court associate; Nazir Sabir, globally renowned mountaineer; and Imran Ashraf, Development advisor, European Union, along with other foreign dignitaries.
BCL showed its commitment to going beyond the hour and collaborate with WWF-Pakistan in planting 3000 indigenous tree saplings in Islamabad, Taxila and Hattar. Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General WWF-Pakistan, in his message for Earth Hour 2017 said, "We have come a long way since 2010, when WWF-Pakistan first celebrated Earth Hour. The seed we sowed has taken root and the masses today are comparatively well-aware of the climatic changes around us.-PR