Dozens of forest fires erupt in Islamabad’s Margalla Hills

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan battled forest fires in multiple areas, including the capital Islamabad, last week as the country grappled with heat waves and dry weather.

Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from a raging fire in the hills of Islamabad with temperatures hitting 41 degrees centigrade on Friday (May 31) afternoon.  According to media reports, the fire erupted at 15 different locations on Margalla Hills. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered an inquiry into the forest fires.

The forest fires initially erupted at three different locations on Hiking Trails 3 and 5 of Margalla Hills, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The authority said it had arranged helicopters after firefighters present on the ground faced difficulties in accessing the fire sites.

Capital Development Authority Director General (CDA DG) Irfan Niazi blamed the blaze on “mischief” while ruling out the possibility of the fire incidents occurring naturally. Islamabad’s district administration even arrested three people in custody on suspicion of arson in Margalla Hills.

The Margalla range on the foothills of the Himalayas frequently experiences bushfires during the summer months. This month, several fires have occurred, largely due to the extreme heat wave affecting the region.

Kallar Kahar, an area close to Islamabad, also saw fire engulf 25 acres of grassland, the province’s disaster management (PDMA) said, adding that the flames had been contained. Lower Dir, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also experienced forest fires on 25 acres of grasslands.

Romina Khurshid Alam, the prime minister’s coordinator on climate change, has established an inter-departmental working group (IWG) on forest fires in the Margalla Hills National Park, headed by Inspector General of Forests Ghulam Qadir Shah.

The body comprising Islamabad Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mustafa Tanveer, the CDA director-general of environment and other officials will coordinate rapid response efforts across relevant departments