ISLAMABAD: On Sunday, the Islamabad administration successfully contained the spread of a forest fire on the Margalla Hills, preventing it from reaching the city’s territory. The blaze, which started in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, is still being managed, according to officials. Experts warn of significant environmental hazards posed by these annual fires.
The Margalla Hills, part of the Himalayan foothills, are prone to bush fires during the summer months. This year, several fires have occurred, largely due to an extreme heat wave affecting the South Asian region. The latest fire incident began on Saturday in KP, following the extinguishment of similar fires at three locations in Islamabad.
“The fire on the KP side is diminishing and losing intensity,” said Shahzad Khalil, a Capital Development Authority (CDA) official overseeing the firefighting efforts. CDA teams, working tirelessly, managed to prevent the fire from spreading into Islamabad by maintaining a continuous presence on site.
Khalil explained that the dense forest terrain makes it challenging to bring heavy equipment, so firefighters create fire lines to control the fire’s spread. “Fire lines, or firebreaks, remove the fuel needed for a fire to continue, creating a barrier,” he added. Efforts to control the fire on the KP side are ongoing, with assistance from the CDA and other institutions, including the army and the National Disaster Management Authority.
Between May 17 and May 31, more than 20 fires erupted on the Margalla Hills, but officials assert the situation within CDA’s jurisdiction is under control. Khalil suggested that the fires might have been caused by accidental ignition due to dry conditions or intentional arson. Fifteen police reports have been filed, and three individuals have been apprehended on suspicion of involvement.
The CDA has temporarily hired 450 local villagers to assist in firefighting and increase vigilance, with 37 pickets established in the area. Future strategies include increasing the number of pickets to enhance fire control measures.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon emphasized the importance of community involvement, urging locals to report suspicious activities. “We have gained the trust and confidence of nearby villages, and our personnel are stationed around the clock, ready to respond immediately to any fire incidents,” Memon said.
In response to the recurring fires, Romina Khurshid Alam, the prime minister’s coordinator on climate change, has established an inter-departmental working group on forest fires in the Margalla Hills National Park. The group, led by Inspector General of Forests Ghulam Qadir Shah, will coordinate rapid response efforts across relevant departments.
Shah highlighted the human factors contributing to these fires, such as discarded cigarette butts and intentional acts by individuals involved in timber theft. He noted that the Ministry of Climate Change had developed standard operating procedures in 2022 to enhance fire prevention and control.
Environmental experts warn that these fires have a detrimental impact on biodiversity and the natural habitat of birds and animals. Dr. Ghulam Rasul of the Climate Change Program’s International Union for Conservation of Nature emphasized the need for aggressive awareness campaigns before each summer season to educate locals and tourists on fire prevention.
Maryam Shabbir, another environmental expert, noted the adverse effects on air quality and recreational activities, urging authorities to use helicopters for rapid response to forest fires.
Pakistan, highly vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change, has faced severe weather events in recent years. In 2022, catastrophic floods killed over 1,700 people and displaced millions, underscoring the urgent need for effective climate and environmental management.
