LAHORE – Pakistan on Sunday night marked the 11th annual Earth Hour, with people in different parts of the country switched off all the unnecessary lights to for one hour to draw attention to the urgent need to step up the fight against climate change and protection of biodiversity.
Launched in 2007 by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Hour asks people to turn off non-essential electric lights from 8:30pm to 9:30pm on a specific day at the end of March.
The WWF-Pakistan organised an event at its head office, hosted by RJ Sophie of Radio FM91, including a live concert by percussionists Quadrum and Space Cassette, an underground band, candle lighting and sky lanterns ceremony with celebrities, corporate partners, guests and pledges by goodwill ambassadors. Hundreds of students and educationists from across the country also vowed to Connect to Earth – the theme for Earth Hour this year.
With the historic Paris Agreement on climate change now in full force, there’s never been a more crucial time to hold leaders accountable and show strong public support for efforts to stem climate change. From the Eiffel Tower to Taipei 101 and the Empire State Building to the Acropolis, thousands of landmarks switched off their lights in solidarity as individuals, communities, and organsations worldwide delivered on their potential to help change climate change, the planet’s biggest environmental challenge yet.
In Pakistan, landmarks including DCO office Lahore, Avari Hotel, PC Hotel, Wapda House, WASA, LESCO, Fatima Group, Wazir Khan Mosque, Hazori bagh, Trail Dehli Gate, PHA, MCB House, LDA Complex, Parliament House, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Pakistan National Monument, Damn e Koh, Pak-China Friendship centre, Shah Faisal Mosque, Convention Centre, D-Chowk, Lake View Park, 7th and 8th Avenues, Sindh Assembly and frère Hall will go dark on Saturday night.
“Pakistan is among the top ten countries affected by climate change and this environmental challenge is already impacting our economy severely. On this Earth Hour, by joining WWF millions of people around the world have shown their commitment to the planet. Switching off all unnecessary lights for one hour on Saturday, 24 March is a symbolic gesture. All of us should pledge to take action in our capacity as an individual, business and policy and decision-maker to reduce our footprint, save nature and protect the environment,” said Asma Ezdi, Head of Communications and Marketing, WWF-Pakistan.
Besides Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar, Nathiagali, Gilgit, and Sukkur, the Earth Hour will also be marked at WWF-Pakistan’s Bahawalpur and Khanewal office as well as Faisalabad in Punjab.
