Earth Hour will be observed in Punjab like other parts of the world by switching off electric lights for one hour from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM on March 19. The purpose of observing Earth Hour is to control environmental damage caused due to human actions. An agreement was signed by Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan on behalf of Punjab government and World Wide Fund (WWF) representatives in this regard, here today.
Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal, MD Punjab Tourism Ahmar Malik, WWF representatives in Pakistan and members of civil society were present on the occasion.
Candles were lit on the occasion to express the determination to make earth a safer and healthier place. Rana Mashhood Ahmad said that the purpose of observing earth hour in Punjab is to express solidarity with the world in the effort at individual and collective level for protection of natural environment in the interest of life on earth. The minister said that the protection of human, animal and plant life against pollution and toxic chemical is a basic human responsibility. Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal and MD Punjab tourism also spoke on the occasion.