ISLAMABAD: The 13th edition of the Pakistan Mountain Festival will commence on December 2, lasting for 10 days to celebrate International Mountain Day. The festival will kick off with a Margalla Hills Trail-3 hiking event, a cleanup initiative, and a discussion on mountain biodiversity.
Scheduled for December 4, a live painting competition with the theme “Mountain Ecosystem” will take place at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) in Rawalpindi. Additional events include an exhibition of paintings, the Pakistan Mountain Youth Forum, documentary screenings, and presentations of mountain products and cultural displays.
Munir Ahmed, the founder of the Pakistan Mountain Festival and Executive Director of Devcom-Pakistan, provided details about the festival’s activities.
The concluding events will feature a conference addressing mountain conservation, sustainable tourism, and cultural heritage in the changing climate. Attendees can also enjoy mountain food stalls, handicrafts, folklore, and cultural and musical performances by troupes from Gilgit, Baltistan, Hunza, Chitral, and Swat.
Professionals to be Honored Pakistan Mountains Pride Awards
Ahmed revealed that 20 professionals would be honored with the 4th Pakistan Mountains Pride Awards (PAMPA), while others would receive the Friends of Mountains Awards (FOMA). The National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) have pledged support for the awards ceremony. PAMPA recognizes individuals for their significant contributions to mountain-related fields, including conservation, community development, mountaineering, sustainable tourism, and mountain music.
Highlighting the festival’s objectives, Ahmed emphasized the need to raise awareness about the gradual impact of climate change on mountain life, livelihoods, ecosystems, and natural resources. He stressed the importance of consistently addressing mountain issues and conserving the culture and heritage of mountain communities.
