Pakistan is a beautiful country with picturesque landscapes, gushing rivers, waterfalls and rugged mountains. There are many beautiful places in Pakistan that are a must-visit if you are an adventure-seeker. That said, it is quite unfortunate that the country’s breathtaking beauty suffers at the hands of its own people. A trip to any tourist site in Pakistan will make you marvel at the natural beauty but at the same time it will leave you embarrassed. Why? The ubiquitous litter and the unsightly debris you see lying around at these places doesn’t appear out of thin air. People visiting these places are mainly responsible for the damage. Plus, not many realize the long term environmental impact of harming the natural beauty and resources of the country. It is about time we changed our mindset as a nation. Protecting your environment is not a choice, it’s a necessity. For a clean and green Pakistan, we need to play our part. Here’s how you can make your contribution.

From adopting various ways to conserve water and reducing waste to using environmentally-friendly products, there are various things you can do to keep your country clean.

When you are out on the streets, don’t forget that you are a responsible citizen of Pakistan. It is your duty not to throw litter on the ground. Keep a small bag with you where you can collect trash—plastic bottles, juice boxes and any wrappers.

When you are taking a road trip in Pakistan and you want to enjoy every bit of the natural beauty that you see on your way, it is your duty to keep the roads and places you visit clean and tidy by not throwing litter around. Inculcate this habit in your children as well by asking them not to throw trash outside. Give them small incentives to collect as much trash as they can at any of these tourist sites. Contribute your bit in keeping your streets and roads clean.

Nargis Latif, a Pakistani environmentalist, values trash and converts it into houses, water reservoirs and compost. Her NGO, Gul Bahao is working endlessly, recycling plastic into a haven for the poor. The tons of industrial plastic waste—mostly wrappers that factory owners reject due to printing issues—is made into bricks and then a house is constructed with it. This is a successful project being run in Karachi. Nargis Latif is doing her bit for a clean and green Pakistan.

On an individual level, don’t throw colourful wrappers, cardboard boxes, and plastic bottles but reuse them in creative ways. May be in a task at your child’s school or as a DIY project to decorate your home. You can also recycle fruit and vegetable peels, rinds, kitchen scraps and turn it into nutrient-dense soil for the plants in your garden. This can be done at home using a compost bin. If you’re interested in how to DIY a compost at home, then start collecting kitchen waste from now on wards.

Conservation of nature and its resources is an important step you should take right this second. Don’t mull over it. Don’t waste water as every drop counts. Also, there are various tips to save electricity that are not only good on your pocket but also play a bigger role in adopting energy-efficient ways. Grow organic food.

Create a kitchen garden of your own. Don’t let your terrace, balcony or front yard give a barren look. Keep potted plants or make a DIY rock garden using hardy plants like cacti. This will make your house look beautiful and if every house in Pakistan bears a green look, the country would automatically become green. 

This is more of a drive. A ‘10-billion tree tsunami project’ has been launched by PM Imran Khan for a clean and green Pakistan. Many saplings have been planted, more are in progress and will soon be planted across the country. This is being done on the massive scale. Individuals can also participate in beautifying their streets. Plant a neem tree, it is easy to maintain, requires less water and gives ample shade.

Biodegradable products are made from materials that are renewable and recyclable and are a part of sustainable living. That means the waste generated from these products won’t go in a landfill site. Some brands have introduced paper bags embedded with seeds. So, even if someone throws them away the seeds can be converted into plants, or you can take out the seeds and plant them yourself. 

Try not to use excessive polythene bags. Replace it with paper bags or biodegradable bags, but avoid plastic as much as you can. Although you love to go on a picnic at one of the most beautiful beaches in Karachi, remember it is just not right to throw plastic bottles or snack wrappers around. Keep your streets and roads clean. Anything plastic in the sea can kill fish. A recent photo of a dead dolphin made rounds on the social media. Its beak had a plastic cap stuck and it died because of starvation and thirst.

There are many countries in the world that are not only spotless but have also taken many initiatives to keep themselves green as well. A case in point: Singapore’s clean and green policy. When the founding father and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launched the Keep Singapore Clean campaign more than 50 years ago, he had other, loftier goals than a simple clean-up in his mind. 

It was important to address the issue of cleanliness for better public health and to avoid any epidemics. Implementing public health laws, safe ways of garbage disposal and development of sewage systems were a part of the campaign. Had the appropriate measures not been taken at the time, Singapore would have been plagued by rodents, cockroaches, flies and above all mosquitoes – bringing in diseases and health issues.

In Singapore, there are fines on almost everything; from not flushing a public toilet, spitting in public, littering the floor or even bringing durian (a tropical fruit having pungent smell) on a train! With these measures, citizens of Singapore have become responsible and the country has become squeaky clean and spotless!

For a clean and green Pakistan let us join hands and do our bit. Just like in Karachi you can make efforts on an individual level to keep the city of lights green. Make Pakistan beautiful! For more updates stay tuned to the best lifestyle blog in Pakistan.