Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 7 December 2022

UNESCO

PRESS RELEASE

UNESCO, Geological Survey of Pakistan and Stakeholders highlighted the importance of Geoscience and Geological Heritage

Islamabad, 07 December- Earth Sciences provide us with invaluable knowledge about our planet, its systems and its 4.6-billion-year history. This knowledge is essential for responding to present-day challenges of human society, such as preserving our Earth’s resources for future generations, mitigating the impact of global warming and risks of geological hazards. To highlight the geological heritage of Pakistan, Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) is looking forward to collaborating with UNESCO’s International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP) to formulate strategies to promote geo-tourism in the country. Geo-tourism will promote important geological sites while conserving natural, cultural, and geological heritage.

In this regard, UNESCO and Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) organized a consultation meeting on 07th December, 2022 at Islamabad. Representatives of federal and provincial government organizations as well as academia participated in the event.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Sajjad Ahmad, Director General of GSP, highlighted the importance of preserving the unique geological features of international importance and geo-heritage of the country combined with tourism as Geotourism. Geoparks are believed to represent the paleo-geological as well as paleo-environmental record of a region and provide an insight to the appropriate use of natural resources.

Dr. Youssef Filali-Meknassi, Director UNESCO Islamabad in his remarks elaborated that Geoparks and tourism together provide an important spectrum that may help in promotion of the tourism industry in Pakistan. It can help to develop policies and plans to conserve the unique geological features of international importance and geological heritage of the country.

Mr. Hassan Mahmood Yousafzai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), in his remarks extended full support for the UNESCO’s International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme in Pakistan and assured that Ministry would extend its full support for the GSP planned activities. The development of geoparks will bring improvement in the economic and social scetor of the country. It will boost geotourism and will provide friendly environment for the researchers, community and tourists.

Capt. Rtd. Shehbaz Tahir Nadeem, Joint Secretary Development, Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), in his concluding remarks appreciated GSP for its role and interest in establishing the IGGP Programme in Pakistan.

Director General GSP Dr. Sajjad Ahmad in his concluding remarks said that two subcommittees comprised of relevant Government Organizations and researchers will be announced very soon followed by a National Committee on IGGP to launch and implement the Programme in Pakistan.

Substantive deliberations will lead in formulation of a roadmap for the geoscience research and geoparks programme in Pakistan. There was consensus on the fact that there is a lot of potential in the country to promote its geological heritage such as Salt Range, Margala Hills National Park, Triple junction of three mightiest mountain ranges at Juglot, Khunjrab National Park, Chundargup mud volcanoes in Hingol National Park and Nagarparkar area Sindh.

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Media contact for UNESCO: Mr. Adnan Ahmed +92 (51) 260 0242

Media contact for GSP: Mr. Awais Ahmed, Cell 0301 7807879