LAHORE: The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature-Pakistan and the Punjab government held a pledge signing ceremony on Monday at the Punjab Assembly to demonstrate their mutual support for action on climate change and to take measures for a low-carbon, sustainable future,says a pressrelease.

Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan and Punjab Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Ahmer Yar Malik pledged to join the Earth Hour campaign to tackle climate change ahead of the global lightsout event being held on March 19 from 8:30pm to 9:30pm.

WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Nagi Khan said, `We are thrilled that members of the provincial assembly of Punjab are supporting Earth Hour this year and we hope that they will inspire others to get involved.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan also pledged to end the usage of plastic bags.`That`s why on this Earth Hour I`m showing I care about the future of our country by making a special pledge for a low-carbon future,` he said.

The education minister pledged to plant more trees, saying he would appeal to people to switch off lights voluntarily as a responsible citizen of the world.

Mr Malik said they had created an eco-tourism hub from Kallar Kahar to Soan Valley. `The picturesque Soan Valley in Khushab district attracts a lot of tourists to its beautiful lakes, waterfalls, forests, natural springs, hills, the endangered Punjab urial, migratory birds in winters and preserved architectural sites,` said Muhammad Tanveer.

Every year, Earth Hour inspires millions of people around the world to come together and switch off their lights for one hour in a symbolic act to show they care about the planet. Last year a record-breaking 172 countries and some of the world`s most Iconic buildings switched off their lights.

This year the campaign`s theme is change climate change.