The coronavirus pandemic has brought with it many medical, social and economic downsides. But with factories closed, transport off the roads and markets shut down, it has also allowed us to glimpse how pristine the earth once was and how it can possibly heal again. Are bluer skies, cleaner air and waters, and resurgent wildlife a goal worth fighting for once the lockdowns ease up?
Islamabad is well known for its green vistas and scenic beauty. But even here, residents may have noticed nowadays how perfectly blue the sky is on clear mornings. It is a pure undifferentiated hue, a pristine joyful blue I’ve only ever seen before years ago when I was a student in Australia. One can see the Margalla Hills in sharp relief now, brooding darkly in the backdrop, without a trace of smog or dust or haze. The lockdown is doing wonders for the atmosphere.
