Eco-friendly: Students clean up Saiful Malook Lake

Around 567 kilogrammes of solid waste collected within two hours.

MANSEHRA: Students on Wednesday removed solid waste from famous recreational spot Saiful Malook Lake to create awareness about the importance of the ecosystem and conservation of natural resources.  

Around 567 kilogrammes of solid waste was collected from around the lake within two hours by students of various educational institutes of the Galiyat region. The waste included plastic cans, wrappers, bottles, shopping bags and other materials harmful to the ecosystem. Unaware of the detrimental effects of these materials on the environment, picnickers regularly toss litter in and around the lake.



The activity was organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in collaboration with a beverage manufacturing company. Speaking to participants on the occasion, WWF Coordinator Waseem said protection of the ecosystem is imperative for the next generations.

“Because of lack of civic sense, picnickers have exposed the world’s famous picnic point, Saiful Malook, to several threats,” he said, adding his organisation would utilise its resources to ensure cleanliness at the picnic spot.

In his address, Mansehra Deputy Commissioner Syed Zulfiqar Shah said his administration was taking steps to protect recreational areas in the district. He also informed boating in the lake without adequate safety measures has been banned under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2013.