‘Margalla Hills Half Marathon best effort to raise climate awareness’

Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam on Sunday appreciated the civil society’s spirit to promote running as a healthy leisure activity and termed the first-ever Margalla Hills Half Marathon held at the scenic Trail-5 of the National Park as a best effort to champion climate awareness.

Addressing the Margalla Hills Half Marathon which is the first and only trail running half marathon in the federal capital organised by the pioneer group of running, Islamabad ‘Run With Us’ as chief guest, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator extended her felicitations to the winning athletes and participants for actively participating in the adventurous endeavour and championing the climate awareness.

More than 150 participants from all across Pakistan including members of the diplomatic community, foreigners and experienced runners joined running on all the main trails of Margalla Hills covering an area of 21.1 kilometres, including the portion of Margalla Road from Trail 5 to Japanese Zoo parking and Pirsohawa Road from Talhar Mor to Monal Restaurant.

Romina said the participants of the Half Marathon were the real celebrities of the event that deserve praise along with the organisers of the activity. She added that climate and sustainable development goals (SDGs) are her passion for spearheading the climate agenda at the policy level which is also the need of the hour.

The minister on the occasion refused to take water in single-use plastic bottles as part of her flagship campaign and awareness drive to apprise the masses to end the one-time use of plastics under the ban being imposed across the federal capital. “Nature and the planet is our mother and we turn to it for solace to get rid of our vagaries of life and have to ensure its conservation. Say no to plastics and I am championing it, whereas media is our messenger and should carry forward this message as well,” she said.

She congratulated the marathon winners and participants and lauded their determination to walk for nature. “Everyone got their reward in the form of the best clean air and natural environment during the marathon,” she added.

Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan thanked the media for supporting the cause of environmental conservation and mass awareness of the responsible role towards nature.

Khan also lauded the Prime Minister’s Coordinator for her warm support to the IWMB as a great supporter and advocate of the environment. “She (Romina) has a positive attitude and tremendous support towards IWMB and the Board will invite her to all its events,” she added.

The IWMB chair said that the marathon was a great experience and would be encouraged in the future as well. “IWMB has over 100 volunteers who are working without any reward and freely work on picking garbage from trails. We request visitors to enjoy nature but don’t litter and create noise and avoid staying in the national park after sunset as most of the wildlife is nocturnal,” Khan said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2024.