From Our Correspondent:Â
A large community gathering was held in Narezai village of Zhob, organised by the Narezai Social and Environmental Society with support from the Ashar Movement. The jirga brought together local residents along with representatives of the Ashar Movement from various parts of the province.
During the meeting, villagers unanimously pledged to protect the area’s forests, wildlife and natural habitat. The community agreed to enforce a strict ban on tree cutting and hunting. This traditional method of environmental protection is known as Pargorh — an age-old Pashtun practice used to safeguard forests long before modern conservation models like Assisted Natural Regeneration.
Speaking to the participants, Ashar Movement founder Salmeen Khpalwak said that strengthening local communities is the most effective and lasting approach to preserving natural resources. He noted that the movement is committed to encouraging villages to establish their own protection societies, which have proven successful in defending biodiversity and preventing harm to designated areas.
He added that community-driven conservation remains the core philosophy of the Ashar Movement, as it ensures long-term stewardship of the environment and empowers people to protect their own ecological heritage.
