ISLAMABAD: The PNCA Film Club and Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) jointly screened five documentary films with the collaboration of UNDP Pakistan and WWF Pakistan in connection with seventh Pakistan Mountain Festival. The festival is an annual flagship thematic advocacy event dedicated to mainstreaming the sustainable mountain development and conservation agenda across the globe. Ambassador of Nepal in Islamabad Sewa Lamsal Adhikari was the chief guest while the Austrian Ambassador Dr Brigitta Blaha and Charge D’affairs Embassy of South Korea Kim Jin-wook were the guests of honour. Speaking on the occasion, Sewa Lamsal Adhikari said Nepal and Pakistan had several cultural commonalities on which the bilateral relationship could be enhanced. Mountains are the one vital phenomenon that can pave a path for joint initiatives to engage the people and expert of both countries, she said. Appreciating the Pakistan Mountain Festival, she said organising several activities every year with meagre resources evidently makes us believe the devotion and dedication of the founding director of the festival. The ambassador showed her passion to ensure participation of the communities and cultural performers from the mountains of Nepal in the future interventions. Austrian Ambassador Dr Brigitta Blaha said mountains were like a backbone for the life of all species including human beings whether they live in the highlands or downstream, and the human life, livelihood and existence also depend mainly on the resources these mountains offer to us. “Film media vibrantly plays its role in showing the actual situation in the highlands. We shall promote more interventions to highlight the importance of mountain environment and conservation of the mountain resources.” Charge D’affairs at South Korea in Islamabad Kim Jin-wook said being a native of mountain area, he can relate the significance of the mountains’ natural resources and the challenges being faced by the mountains across the globe because of the greenhouse gas effect and global warming which are causing rapid climate change. “The impact is immense, rapid and intense. The only solution is to reduce carbon emissions and eliminate deforestation and degradation of forests. We need to stress upon the major polluters to pay off for their climate injustice,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, Devcom-Pakistan Director Munir Ahmed said, “The films screened today reflect the apathy of the mountains impacted by the climate change. Communities and natural habitats, ecosystems, mountain resources and indigenous cultures are under threat. Men’s migration from the mountains to plains in search of livelihood options would leave no space for communities’ ownership of mountains and enhance the vulnerability for the women and children left behind in the homes. We need to create options for them by keeping up the natural habitats and ecosystems intact for their sustainable ecotourism, mountaineering, and cultural cohesiveness.” While paying vote of thanks, Aijaz Gul said, “Pakistan is blessed with the highest mountain peaks in the world. Mountaineers from all over the world visit northern parts of the country. In the recent past, there has been decline due to reasons known to all of us. However, things are beginning to move in the positive direction once again and one can hope that the glories of tourism and tourists are on their way back.” The five films screened are: ‘Agli Rutt Ki Dastak’, ‘Deosai’, ‘Central Karokaram National Park’, ‘Margallah Hills National Park’, ‘K2 and The Invisible Footmen.’ One can see many events, locations and people in these five films. They also feature Sameena Khayal Baig, who set the record of climbing the highest peaks by dispelling the impression that mountain climbing had nothing to do with the women folk. Published in Daily Times, December 16th 2017.