Earth hour brings environment focus in Pakistan

Pakistan will join countries around the globe for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature's (WWF) Earth Day, using the event to bring to focus environmental issues in the country.

Several dignitaries from around the country are set to make appearances at the environmental event, where lights are turned out for one hour to highlight environmental issues.

Singer and philanthropist Shehzad Roy jokingly quipped: "The electricity goes quite frequently in Pakistan anyway, so we are already quite environmentally friendly."

However, he took a more stern note shortly after, pleading with Sindh environment minister Sheikh Muhammad Afzal: "We have to stop dumping sewerage from Karachi into the ocean. The government can be pushed through our pressure groups to do this much."

WWF Pakistan president Khalid Mahmood echoed his sentiment, pointing to several other poor countries around the world which have managed to stop dumping untreated sewerage into the ocean.

Creating recognition for environmental projects in the country was signalled as a similarly important task, with many dignitaries pointing to the environmental event as a chance to reflect on how they live their lives.

Posted by Joseph Hutton