Burning Sheen Malakand in Flames: A Young Social Worker’s Appeal for Climate Action
The Fires That Devoured Everything
The mountains of Malakand, which were once green with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves, especially from May to August, are now ash-filled cemeteries. The past three summers have been absolutely devastating. Once uncommon, wildfires have become an annual calamity. The hills of “Thana Malakand” were devastated by the fire this year as well, destroying grass, trees, and defenseless wildlife. Trees burned down in a valley in a couple of minutes. Animals are trying to survive. A valley of fear and despair. Using twigs and our bare hands, a few volunteers from Mashaal Welfare Trust and I attempted to extinguish the fire. Without protective suits, water containers, or official aid, we were risking our lives. And yet, no one asked us why these fires keep happening again and again. The sadness resides not in the destruction. It’s in silence. For three years now, there hasn’t been an official investigation. No action plan from the fire department. There is no research to identify whether they are natural heat-altered phenomena or man-made, whether on purpose or by mistake.
These fires are more than just local tragedies. They deliver an enormous damage to Pakistan’s efforts to combat climate change. Wildfires emit enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, which exacerbates air pollution, speeds up global warming, and destroys carbon sinks. Forests that would have reduced atmospheric CO2 levels by burning.
The More Comprehensive Climate Crisis: A National Obligation
Damage from these wildfires is only one of several indicators that climate-related disasters have long plagued Pakistan. Natural disasters have increased alarmingly in the past decade due to climate change, from severe flooding in Sindh to devastating heatwaves in the southern areas. With its agricultural sector most severely impacted by erratic weather patterns, Pakistan is really one of the country’s most at risk from climate change. As a patriotic nation, we have been slow to put adaptation and mitigation plans into action. Pakistan does not make full use of the “Green Climate Fund” which was established to support developing countries in their fight against climate change. Our forests are disappearing, and urban expansion has left little room for green areas. Despite these significant challenges, Pakistan’s youth remain a beacon of optimism. From the slums of Lahore to the mountains of Malakand, young people have been the driving force behind environmental movements. They are planting trees, starting eco-friendly businesses, and promoting better waste management techniques. However, the national and local governments’ desire to take climate change seriously is insufficient, as is institutional support.
Check Out: Bushfires and Their Dangerous Impacts on the Environment
Deforestation – Causes, Effects, and Solutions
Mashaal Welfare Trust initiated the Sheen Malakand project with the dream of bringing back the green glory of our region. “Sheen” is a Pashto word for “green,” and that’s exactly what we set out to do not just aesthetically, but environmentally as well. The organization planted more than 40,000 trees in three and a half years, one of the largest youth-led plantation campaigns in the history of Malakand. But this was never only about numbers. It was about interacting with locals, especially youth and school children and educating them about how deforestation impacts and how trees regulate temperature, stop soil erosion, and provide biodiversity.
These were not ceremonial plantings. These were specially chosen indigenous trees, nurtured and monitored by volunteers. It was around the same time when it realized there was another silent killer of our ecosystem: plastic. Plastic-Free Malakand was established as a reaction to the increasing threat of plastic pollution. Pakistan generates approximately 3.9 million tons of plastic waste annually, and the majority of it goes directly into landfills, rivers, and eventually, the ocean. UNDP reports that only 3% of plastic waste in Pakistan is recycled the rest accumulates to inflict long-term damage to soil, water, and marine life.
As a response, Mashaal Welfare Trust has launched awareness campaigns and physically distributed “Eco bags” in densely populated market areas like Main Bazar Thana Malakand. Also, camps included live sessions with locals and shopkeepers, demonstrations of alternatives to plastic, and cultural integration exhorting people to bring back the cloth bags their elders carried. Women were also involved in the process, creating a small circular economy around Eco bag stitching. To supplement our environmental campaigns, the organization launched “Study Circles” intensive group discussions held at schools, public spaces, and universities under the theme of “Climate Change and How to Combat It.” Study Circles helped in elevating climate action from just campaigns to an intensified learning process.
A Request for Action: Prior to It Being Too Late
According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is already one of the top ten nation’s most at risk from climate change. Our glaciers are melting. Urban flooding is a problem in our cities. Our rural areas suffer from unpredictable weather patterns. And yet, climate resilience and environmental preparedness remain inadequately underfunded.
Leaders at the local and national levels need to realize that what occurs in Malakand does not remain in Malakand. Wildfires in particular cause environmental degradation, which has a cascading effect on rainfall, air quality, food security, and public health that extends well beyond regional borders.
In the Malakand division, we require:
- A local firefighting team is prepared to tackle forest fires.
- A government-sponsored inquiry into recurrent wildfire situations to identify the cause and stop repeating.
- Government and non-profit support for climate education in schools and universities.
- Assistance for community-led forestry initiatives, including financial support and monitoring systems.
- Including local NGOs, such as Mashaal Welfare Trust, in plans for disaster response.
The young people of Malakand have fulfilled their role. Trees have been planted. We have engaged in firefighting. We have brought attention to this. It’s easy to say, “it’s too late,” but there is never a time that is too late. Every tree planted, every plastic bag avoided, every young person educated about climate awareness, all these things add up, and it all starts with listening, caring, and acting. The forests are not just ours, though; they are Pakistan’s lungs, and they are choking.
Acknowledgements
The author is thankful to Mashaal Welfare Trust, Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for providing literature collection facility and for their courageous efforts.
References & Sources:
- Plastic Waste in Pakistan – UNDP Pakistan
- Global Climate Risk Index 2021 – Germanwatch
- Pakistan’s Plastic Crisis – DAWN News
- World Bank Report: Climate Risk Profile – Pakistan
- Forest Fires and Their Impact – WWF Pakistan
- Pakistan’s Ranking in Climate Vulnerability – UN Climate Report
This article is contributed by: Waleed Khan
“I’m Waleed Khan, a proud resident of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a land of mountains, greenery, and beautiful traditions. While I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Electrical and Computing Engineering at South China University of Technology, my heart belongs to my hometown and to the people I serve through Mashaal Welfare Trust, a non-governmental, non-political, and non-profit organization I co-founded. I now serve as its Vice President, after initially leading it as President.
My journey as a social worker began with a simple belief: if the youth of this country come forward, real change is possible. This belief took form through our many initiatives under Mashaal Welfare Trust, but none more personal than our environmental work in the form of Sheen Malakand and Plastic-Free Malakand.”
