Centre For Integrated Mountain Research ( CIMR)
There have been rather vague concepts in Pakistan that by Mountainous Regions, we mean only the high mountain ranges of Himalayas, Karakorum and Hindu Kush that are present in northern parts of the country. It was not understood that a Mountainous region means an area more than 300 m above sea level, where natural vegetation starts changing. Due to
this conceptual ignorance, most of the Mountainous regions got more or less included in the plain areas and, therefore, were not given the specialize attention which was required. On the other hand, the application of techniques and methodologies used in the Plain areas were indiscriminately applied also to Mountainous areas. The result is that we have been unable to stabilize our mountainous regions, we have not exploited mountain resources fully and we have not created durable basis of job opportunities for the mountainous people. This can happen only if we adopt the particular approach and for this purpose we have to establish at least one institution to function for the achievement of relevant objectives. The Centre for Integrated Mountain Research, Punjab University was established on this very concept on 27 July, 1987. The concept of integrated development of mountainous regions not only ensures socio-economic uplift of the mountain communities but also makes indirect contribution towards Plain areas due to their intimate linkages through tectonic and erosional phenomena.