ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC), in collaboration with the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) and Capital Development Authority (CDA), conducted its annual ‘Throw and Grow’ initiative in the Margalla Hills to promote afforestation, biodiversity and community participation in environmental conservation.
The initiative, which continued throughout August, engaged hikers and visitors at Trail 3 and Trail 5, encouraging them to contribute to the natural regeneration of the Margalla Hills, one of Islamabad’s most important natural landscapes.
More than 500,000 seedballs, prepared by women from rural communities, were distributed and dispersed across designated areas of Trails 3 and 5 during the campaign. The seedballs contained indigenous plant species aimed at supporting the regeneration of native vegetation in the hills.
Dedicated activation points were established along the trails where participants could collect seedballs before dispersing them in designated areas. The initiative turned routine recreational activities into an opportunity for visitors to participate directly in supporting the surrounding ecosystem.
Activities were held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during peak morning and evening hours. According to the organisers, the campaign had the potential to engage more than 100,000 visitors throughout August.
The initiative sought to promote a stronger sense of collective responsibility for the Margalla Hills by combining environmental action with public participation. It also highlighted the importance of involving local communities and visitors in efforts to protect Islamabad’s green spaces and biodiversity.
PTC said the initiative forms part of its longstanding afforestation efforts and reflects an approach that extends beyond conventional tree plantation by encouraging communities to become active participants in environmental conservation.
The use of indigenous species is particularly significant for supporting the ecological character of the Margalla Hills, where natural vegetation provides habitat for wildlife while helping protect soil, regulate water flows and maintain the area’s overall environmental health.
The ‘Throw and Grow’ campaign demonstrates how public participation, when combined with conservation efforts, can provide an additional avenue for supporting the restoration and protection of urban and peri-urban ecosystems.
