Environment Day on June 5^th was celebrated with enthusiasm in Chitral town through the participation of environment activist, social workers and NGO and community representatives. A placard and banner bearing walk was taken out from Chew Bridge to polo ground Chitral. The feature of the walk was the participation of students from Broghil, in the Eastern Pamir region.  

The walk came to an end after it reached the Chitral polo ground where community representatives and head of NGOs and environment activists addressed the gathering. The grave concern regarding environmental degradation was highlighted particularly in reference to the disappearing peat bog in Broghil, to the extreme north of the Chitral district. The speakers also pointed out the recent ecological imbalance that has resulted in the growing population of caterpillars destroying hawthorns, apple, mulberry and clover. This problem, they maintained, in northern Chitral is linked to the disappearing bird species such as black throated thrush, grey tit, and ‘chilingi’, local name for a tiny black bird. The question as to why they disappeared is not an easy one. Perhaps global warming or pesticide or  even hunting has wrecked havoc.

It was emphasized that school curriculum should be environmental-friendly and there should be environment science classes even at primary level. Student should be given exposure to places of environmental significance.

It must be noted that in Chitral people have almost started to feel the changes in natural environment and natural biodiversity. The old-age people are dumbfounded when they discuss about the longevity of winter spring seasons. To them, now winters are shorter and warmers and spring is very short. Such measurable environmental changes have had negative impacts on flora and fauna, glaciers, underground water storage and river system.

The question is: how will the mountainous communities in Chitral be able to return to the lap of the Mother Nature? Will such return to nature be ever possible at all? Who knows?