Pakistan pushes UNESCO for third biosphere reserve in Gilgit-Baltistan

Documentations for the Karakoram Pamir Biosphere Reserve will be located in Gilgit Baltistan.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thrusday pushed the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for the country's third biosphere reserve in Pamir, Gilgit-Baltistan.

Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid in a meeting with a UNESCO delegation said that the government has completed documentation for the third reserve. The UNESCO delegation extended its support in soliciting approval for the Karakoram Pamir biosphere reserve, and is expected to be made official during the visit of the DG UNESCO to Pakistan in June, 2014.

Pakistan currently has two biosphere reserves - the Lal Sohanra National Park located in the Cholistan Desert, which was approved by UNESCO in 1977. The second is the Juniper forest of Ziarat, believed to be the second largest of its kind in the world, which was approved in May 2013.

The delegation was also informed that the Ministry was working on the fourth such reserve in the country, which would be located in Sindh.

The UN global development network's programmes in Pakistan, particularly the ongoing Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme which is led by Ministry of Science and Technology through Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) was also discussed.

Secretary Ministry for Science and Technology Kamran Ali Qureshi, Director UNESCO Islamabad K K Nagata, Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation Khalil Ahmad were also present at the meeting.

The delegation discussed the issue of blind dolphin - endangered species found in Indus River. The Minister directed the PSF Chairman to prepare a project for the protection and preservation of the said dolphins.

The UNESCO delegation said that it will help Pakistan in development projects related to scientific education, health and cultural heritage.