Better planet: Sindh to mark Earth Hour fourth year in a row

Govt officials sign declaration with WWF-Pakistan to switch off lights on Mar 29.

KARACHI: For the fourth year in a row, all lights in Sindh will be switched off for an hour on March 29 to celebrate Earth Hour with the rest of the world.

The decision was made when government officials signed a declaration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) — Pakistan at the Sindh Assembly’s committee room on Wednesday. Sindh is currently the only province to have the ‘Earth Hour Province’ status.



Earth Hour is celebrated across the world to create awareness on environmental issues. This year, the Earth Hour’s theme is ‘Use Your Power’ and will be held on March 29 from 8:30pm to 9:30pm at all district headquarters and provincial landmarks, such as Sindh Assembly, Governor House, Sindh High Court, Marriott hotel, Pearl Continental hotel, Dawood Centre and Shaheen Complex.

People live on the planet that can only stay beautiful if they own it, ensure effective management of its precious natural resources, said Dr Sikandar Ali Mandhro, the minister for environment, coastal development and parliamentary affairs. “As time goes by, our planet is being used beyond its capacity,” he said.

“If we do not act now, we will spend millions and billions of rupees in trying to recover its [original] state.” Mandhro urged everyone to stand together in this movement to protect the planet.

WWF-Pakistan’s regional director Rab Nawaz said people need to realise that climate change is a real challenge. “Pakistan is one of the top 10 countries that are vulnerable to climate change impacts,” he said. The Government of Sindh has supported WWF-Pakistan in all environmental initiatives beyond Earth Hour, which makes the real difference, he said, pointing out that Sindh is the only province that has declared ‘Neem’ as its provincial tree.

Asif Sandeelo of WWF-Pakistan informed reporters that Earth Hour is the world’s largest grass-roots level movement to combat climate change. It started from Sydney, Australia, in 2007. “Earth Hour invites people everywhere to voluntarily switch off all unnecessary lights for one hour as a symbolic act to show their commitment to saving the planet,” he said.

Most speakers called upon individuals, families, institutes and corporations to join the world’s largest movement at the Sindh Assembly building. The participants included MPAs Khurram Sher Zaman, Muhammad Nawaz Chandio and Haji Shafi Muhammad Jamote. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) director-general Naeem Ahmed Mughal, EPA director Waqar Phulpoto and other officials were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2014.