World Wildlife Day was celebrated worldwide, including in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, with a vow to safeguard forests and wildlife. The Department of Wildlife Fisheries, Azad Kashmir, organized events in ten districts to raise public awareness. A seminar and a walk were held in Muzaffarabad, led by Secretary Wildlife Fisheries Naeem Bismal, DG Brigadier Syed Akhtar Shah, Director Naeem Iftikhar Dar, Director General Forest Development Sardar Iftikhar Ahmed, Deputy Director Abdul Shakoor Khan, Director Forest Development Muhammad Shahbaz Khan, and Project Manager Rabia Ilyas.
Participants carried banners and placards highlighting the importance of protecting wildlife. Representatives from various departments, including the Wildlife Department, Forest Department, Animal Affairs Department, community representatives, and media, attended the seminar. During the event, Director Naeem Dar and Deputy Director Abdul Shakur Khan briefed the attendees on ongoing projects and initiatives for wildlife protection in Azad Kashmir and answered questions from community representatives.
In his address, Secretary Naeem Bismal announced that wildlife in Azad Kashmir would be included in the initial syllabus of educational institutions to emphasize the importance of protecting forests and wildlife. He emphasized the need to love and protect forests and wildlife, stating that our survival depends on their survival.
