LAHORE: The World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) and the Walled City Lahore Authority (WCLA) on Tuesday entered into an agreement to work together for enhancing the quality of the environment within the walled city.
WWF-Pak DG Hammad Naqi Khan and WCLA DG Kamran Lashari signed an MoU for the project in the walled city, which is a densely populated area and the cultural and business hub of Lahore.
The MoU reaffirms WWF-Pakistan’s commitment to overcome common urban challenges while improving the use of resources and minimizing pollution. The collaboration will develop the Walled City into a sustainable and resilient locality.
Speaking on the occasion, Hammad Naqi Khan said: “The forces driving growing urbanization are strong but the expansion of urban areas poses a more serious challenge, generating problems which are increasingly affecting the proper functioning of cities and the well-being of their inhabitants.
“Our cities are struggling to address multiple challenges and there are a number of opportunities in the walled city of Lahore where WWF-Pakistan and WCLA can join hands to improve the overall environment.”
Kamran Lashari expressed interest in working with WWF-Pakistan to develop a strategy for waste management and the development of greenery.
Residents of Lahore’s walled city area are exposed to chronic congestion, air and noise pollution and an increased vulnerability to numerous waterborne diseases, according to WWF-Pakistan.
To address this issue, WWF-Pakistan in collaboration with WCLA has already installed two water filtration plants under its project increasing the access and supply of safe drinking water in Lahore.
