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Zong, Pakistan’s leading technology services enterprise, has partnered with WWF-Pakistan to strengthen conservation efforts for the endangered Indus River Dolphin (Platanista minor), one of the world’s rarest freshwater dolphin species and an iconic symbol of Pakistan’s natural heritage. Through its support of WWF Pakistan’s ongoing Indus Dolphin conservation program, Zong is contributing to enhanced rescue operations, ecological monitoring, community engagement, and environmental awareness to help safeguard the species and its fragile river ecosystem.
The partnership was marked by the inauguration of the Indus Dolphin Rescue and Mobile Awareness Ambulance, held at the WWF Pakistan office in Islamabad. The ceremony was attended by the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, Zong Chairman and CEO Mr. Huo Junli, Director General WWF Pakistan Mr. Hammad Naqi Khan, His Excellency Yang Guangyuan of the Chinese Embassy, alongside senior dignitaries from the partner organizations.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, said: “The Indus River Dolphin is older than every civilization that has flourished along the Indus. Though blind, it reminds us that living in harmony with nature does not always require sight. Its conservation is the result of collective action, and this Rescue Awareness Ambulance marks the beginning of a long-term mission to protect the species alongside local communities. On behalf of the Prime Minister, I thank the Chinese Embassy and Zong not only for supporting this initiative, but also for strengthening connectivity, reaching remote communities, and improving livelihoods across Pakistan. I also appreciate WWF Pakistan and our Chinese partners for advancing a shared commitment to conservation and the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China.”
Speaking of this flagship initiative, Chief Regulatory Officer Zong, Mr. Kamran Ali, stated: “It is a great honour to be part of this moment. For Zong, the Indus Dolphin Rescue Ambulance is a concrete expression of our commitment to inclusive growth and environmental stewardship – a meaningful initiative rooted in the enduring friendship between China and Pakistan. For nearly two decades, Zong has put down deep roots in Pakistan, dedicated to bridging the digital divide and serving Pakistani society through cutting-edge technologies. We hope this project marks a new starting point, enabling us to better protect the environment and contribute to building a closer China-Pakistan community”
Director General WWF Pakistan, Mr. Hammad Naqi Khan, added: “Pakistan is home to an estimated population of around 2,000 Indus River Dolphins, which is a remarkable conservation success story. Since 1992, WWF-Pakistan has worked closely with the provincial Wildlife Departments, particularly the Sindh and Punjab Wildlife Departments, alongside other valued partners and support from the private sector, to rescue and release more than 200 stranded dolphins. The addition of this dedicated dolphin ambulance will significantly strengthen our emergency response and monitoring capacity, helping ensure that stranded animals receive timely assistance. The partnership demonstrates how businesses can move beyond conventional corporate philanthropy to invest in practical, measurable conservation solutions.”
Found exclusively in the Indus River system, the Indus River Dolphin has faced decades of habitat fragmentation, shrinking freshwater flows, and accidental canal strandings, making it one of the world’s most endangered cetaceans. The initiative deploys a specialized mobile rescue and awareness unit covering the largest global population of the Indus River Dolphin between the Guddu and Sukkur barrages in Sindh. The ambulance will enhance monitoring of stranded dolphins, support timely rescue and safe translocation efforts, engage more than 1,500 fisherfolk and riverine community members as frontline conservation partners, and deliver 50 awareness sessions across remote settlements.
Aligned with Zong’s sustainability pillars of Green & Low Carbon Operations and Inclusive Growth, the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to biodiversity protection and community empowerment, demonstrating that environmental stewardship and socioeconomic development can advance hand in hand toward a more sustainable future for Pakistan.
