CDA Plans To Use Drones To Monitor Forest Fires in Margalla Hills National Park

Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will deploy drones to monitor forest fires in Margalla Hills National Park.

According to Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWWB) Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan, about 80 to 90 percent of fires in the Margalla Hills National Park are started by residents of surrounding villages.

In a meeting held on Thursday, probable strategies for fighting summer fires at Margalla Hills were discussed under the chairmanship of Aamer Ali Ahmed.

Among the attendees were Reena Saeed Khan, Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), representatives of the capital police, and representatives of the Islamabad administration.

At the meeting, participants agreed that drone technology could assist the civil administration in identifying forest fires and their causes so that action can be taken in time.

As part of the agreement, joint teams of CDA, district administration, and IWMB will also patrol the forest areas to bring those responsible for deforestation to justice.

Please take care when hiking the trails, as the vegetation is extremely dry. Neither smoking, cooking, nor barbecuing is allowed in the national park.