Shahid Afridi urges tourists to keep Pakistan's northern areas clean

Former cricket captain posts video of himself picking up trash, says he is arranging dustbins for waste disposal

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi urged tourists visiting the country’s scenic northern areas to take greater responsibility in protecting the environment and to avoid leaving behind garbage.

Afridi took to Instagram to highlight the issue of waste in some of Pakistan’s picturesque tourist destinations. In a video filmed in a mountainous area, the former cricketer was seen surrounded by natural scenery, including lakes and waterfalls that had been marred by discarded plastic, bottles and other rubbish.

He appealed to visitors to enjoy the beauty of the region while ensuring that they leave the area clean.

"Exploring the breathtaking mountains of North Pakistan is a blessing, but leaving our trash behind is not! Enjoy the beauty, take memories, but leave only footprints. Keeping our beautiful Pakistan clean and green is our shared responsibility," he captioned the post.

In the video, Afridi stated, “Come here, enjoy with family but do not throw your garbage like this,” while cleaning up waste scattered around the area. The former cricketer added that preserving the natural beauty of Pakistan required both individual responsibility from tourists and practical support for local communities.

He also noted that he was arranging dustbins in the area to give visitors designated places to dispose of their litter. “We have also arranged dustbins, around four to five, to be placed around the area, to help tackle this issue,” he said.

 

 

 

 

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Afridi also used his visit to highlight the desires of children living in the area. According to the former cricketer, local children approached him with a simple request: a cricket pitch where they could play the sport they loved.

He stated that he would try to fulfil the request and arrange for a cricket pitch to be constructed before the country's Independence Day on August 14. “These kids have made the demand that they would like a cricket pitch before Independence Day, so we will also try to get that done for them,” he said.

The gesture reflected the former cricket captain's involvement in community-focused initiatives, particularly those aimed at supporting children and improving facilities in underserved areas.