WWF-Pakistan celebrated its 17th annual Travelling Nature Carnival 2015 with unprecedented support as thousands of people including students, children, and parents attended the event at Race Course Park, Lahore here the other day.
Horlicks-GSK Consumer Healthcare Pakistan joined hands for the second time as the main sponsor of the event to raise awareness and consciousness among the younger generation on pressing environmental issues.
The objective of the event was to motivate and involve the youth and general public in valuing the rich natural heritage of Pakistan, and supporting conservation initiatives. Around 100 stalls of 3-D models were set up by schools, colleges and universities. Hundreds of students participated in live presentations to the judges and guests, featuring themes which included trees – friends of nature and their benefits; reduce plastic, save marine life; species habitats of the snow leopard, markhor and vulture; recycle waste-reduce impact; bringing eco-friendly changes to campus; eco-recycling and repurposing of e-waste/green energy; wealth of wetlands – ecological, social and economic; and identifying environmental needs, presenting solutions. The winning institutes were presented with shields and certificates.
A total of 15 commercial activities were also set up to engage kids. The carnival also arranged an environment puppet show, live musical performance, magic show, environment games and quiz, nature art exhibition, theatre, and environment debate competition. One of the main attractions of the event was Horlicks gaming canopy with an objective to help kids taller, stronger and sharper.
Aisam-Ul-Haq, Pakistan’s top tennis player and an international top-10 doubles player, was the chief guest at the event. He congratulated all the winning institutions. Speaking to the students, he said, ‘It is encouraging to see the overwhelming interest of students for the conservation of environment. I strongly believe that with this spirit and enthusiasm, we’ll be able to address major issues Pakistan is grappling with, especially climate change, deforestation and pollution.’
Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan said, ‘The Nature Carnival is meant to raise environmental awareness among children. We are focusing on them as they are the policy and decision-makers of tomorrow.
‘Through the Nature Carnival environmental messages can be conveyed to a large audience, especially children who are the stewards for change and should therefore be sensitized to promote conservation.’ He hoped to make the young generation of Pakistan an environmentally sensitive generation and guardian of our natural resources.
Expressing her gratitude to all the academic institutions, corporate partners and public sector institutions, Sania Khan, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Fundraising, WWF-Pakistan said, ‘Collective support of our partners ensures a successful show. For the past 15 years, WWF-Pakistan’s Nature Carnival has been playing its role as a unique endeavour that brings together thousands of visitors, such as students, families, corporate sector, media, government organisations, conservation organisations and general public. It provides a collective platform for building knowledge and interest in responsible action, ecologically conscious development and sustainable living.
