Margalla Hills: Irresponsible tourists dump trash on hiking trails

ISLAMABAD: The poor management of Margalla Hills National park, illegal cutting of trees and irresponsible tourist behaviour have been jeopardising the lush green trails of the federal capital.

According to a survey, people usually bring bags full of consumable items up the trails and then leave behind piles of plastic bags, food and drink containers, bottles and other non-bio-degradable material and also cut trees from the forest of Margallah Hills.

The trees are not even used as timber to make furniture rather the expensive wood is burnt for cooking.

The Margalla hills at present are frequently visited by both regular hikers and occasional visitors like tourists both local and foreigners, however, no moral commitment can be seen among any to help preserve the precious forest.

Pakistan is a forest-deficient country and only 5.2 per cent of the area is covered with forests.

Although millions of saplings have been planted in the twin cities this year, the country is still far from achieving an optimal percentage of its land covered by forests.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2018.