WWF-Pakistan has a long history of working in partnership with the private sector to find innovative solutions to pressing environmental issues in Pakistan.
Industry leaders and conservationists gathered in Karachi on February 21, 2023 to commemorate “50 Years of Conservation in Pakistan” and WWF‘s long-standing conservation work in Pakistan. President Emeritus of WWF-Pakistan, Syed Babar Ali, served as the event’s host.
More than 150 people from various backgrounds attended the event, including corporate representatives, Goodwill Ambassadors for WWF-Pakistan, members of the Board of Governors, representatives of the government, media partners, and WWF-Pakistan staff.
WWF-Pakistan is one of the world’s largest conservation organizations, established in 1970 and working to conserve nature and ecological processes in Pakistan. WWF-Pakistan has a long history of working in partnership with the private sector to find innovative solutions to pressing environmental issues in Pakistan.
Over the past 50 years, the organisation has spearheaded multiple conservation and environmental successes, such as the reintroduction of the endangered Black Bucks at the Lal Suhanra National Park in 1973, a community-based trophy hunting program to support the communities of Gilgit Baltistan in 1995, the Pakistan Wetlands Programme in 2000, which culminated in Pakistan’s first National Wetland Policy, and the production of organic cotton through sustainable practises in 2010.
Syed Babar Ali, President Emeritus, WWF-Pakistan, shared his vision of the organisation and its goal of not just wildlife conservation but also involving the people and making them realise that they have a stake in the conservation process.
He also commented on WWF-Pakistan becoming one of the leading offices in the global network, with 30 large offices across the globe and Pakistan being among the top ten. WWF-Pakistan strives to lead behavioural change among the people, which is truly impactful. In his opening remarks, Nadeem Khalid, President of WWF-Pakistan, discussed the various environmental issues Pakistan is currently dealing with.
He said this “An environmental emergency is currently occurring. These significant changes in our climate and environment are being caused by our unsustainable practises and disregard for the environment. To change our ways, we must start at home and adopt environmentally friendly behaviors like reusing kitchen waste, giving up single-use plastics, and promoting tree planting, among others.”
The 50th anniversary of WWF-Pakistan is a significant milestone, and it would not have been possible without any of our partners, which include academic institutions, governmental agencies, local communities, and corporate partners.
Director General of WWF-Pakistan, Hammad Naqi Khan, stressed the importance of partnerships in conservation. The disastrous events of 2022 serve as a stark reminder of Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change and the continued devastation the nation will experience if all stakeholders do not band together. “We kindly ask all of our partners to contribute to our conservation story because it still has a long way to go.”
Industry leaders present on the occasion renewed their commitments to taking up sustainability and conservation initiatives like forest and wildlife conservation, pollution-free cities, freshwater stewardship, and sustainable agriculture. Representatives of corporate partners also acknowledged their long-standing relationship and successful partnership with WWF-Pakistan.