LAHORE – Like other parts of the globe, Earth Hour 2012 was observed in Pakistan including the City on Saturday. A Declaration of Support was signed between Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Anwar Nasim of WWF – Pakistan, country’s foremost environmental organisation which has been celebrating this global symbolic event for natural resource conservation since 2010. The CM declared his support for conservation and environment awareness. Hundreds of people showed their solidarity with the cause at Qarshi University and at the Punjab Assembly with Tennis Star Aisam-ul-Haq and singer Abrar-ul-Haq, and at other events organised by businesses, restaurants, banks and multinationals across Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad in partnership with WWF.
Speaking at the Punjab Assembly, WWF DG Ali Hassan Habib invited all audience members to take up the challenge of conservation according to their capacity as ‘small actions bring about great change’.
In Karachi, Earth Hour was marked at the Mausoleum of the Quaid with Fawad Khan and in Islamabad, National Assembly was the chosen venue for this global mega event with WWF Celebrity Ambassadors, Conservationists, Environmentalists, Educationists, Civil Society Leaders, Corporate Partners and Government Officials. The message was to switch off unnecessary lights especially since our country is facing such a dearth of energy. Businesses and corporations partnered with WWF to show they will consume energy ethically and not waste it.
The Candle Lighting ceremony for Earth Hour 2012 was earlier held in Sheikhupura on Friday, in partnership with Pebbles Real Estate.
Hundreds of children and members of civil society, educationists, opinion leaders and more attended the event where noted artist and activist, and WWF Earth Hour Ambassador, Shahzad Roy, shared his views on conservation and the necessity of being careful when utilizing resources such as water, electricity, oil and gas.