Seminar on International Mountain Day held at PMAS-AAUR
Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) organized a seminar to commemorate International Mountain Day 2025, focusing on the theme “Protecting Mountain Flora.” The event was jointly arranged by the Department of Botany and the Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC), and brought together eminent scientists, scholars, and environmental experts to discuss the importance of conserving mountain ecosystems.
Prof. Dr. Rahmatullah Qureshi, Dean, Faculty of Sciences, highlighted that Pakistan’s mountain ecosystems harbor the richest concentration of endemic flora in the country. He noted that Pakistan is home to nearly 6,000 species of flowering plants, about 500 of which are endemic and primarily confined to the Himalayan, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush ranges. Prof. Qureshi emphasized that celebrating International Mountain Day serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility to safeguard these invaluable natural resources for future generations.
The Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. G. Raza Bhatti, Former Vice Chancellor of Sheikh Ayaz University and Former Member of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), stressed the urgent need to protect Earth’s life-support systems, which are increasingly threatened by unsustainable human activities, climate change, and habitat destruction. He underscored the significance of biodiversity conservation and highlighted the role of botanical gardens and herbaria in universities as crucial educational and conservation tools across Pakistan’s diverse ecological regions.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Mahmood Nasir, Former Inspector General of Forests, reflected on his decades-long experience in forestry and environmental management. He emphasized that sustainable forest management, community participation, and continuity in environmental policy are vital for preserving biodiversity and mitigating environmental degradation. Dr. Nasir also acknowledged the Forest Department’s central role as a frontline institution in conserving Pakistan’s natural heritage.
The seminar concluded with the discussion on innovative strategies for protecting mountain flora and promoting ecological sustainability. The event reaffirmed PMAS-AAUR’s commitment to advancing research, awareness, and policy dialogue on biodiversity conservation and sustainable mountain development.
Read in Urdu: بارانی زرعی یونیورسٹی راولپنڈی میں پہاڑوں کے عالمی دن کے حوالے سے سیمینار کا انعقاد
