Dr. Aiza Kashif, a Pakistani biology teacher has achieved the honour of serving as community’s first foreign 'river chief' in Shanghai. Dr. Aiza has called China home for nearly 13 years has become more than a profession - it’s a way of life that bridges her two homelands. Serving as her community’s first foreign “river chief,” she combines scientific expertise with grassroots activism to protect Shanghai’s waterways, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday. “When I first saw Shanghai’s community spirit and environmental commitment, I knew I wanted to contribute,” says Dr. Kashif, her eyes lighting up as she recalls her decision to volunteer.

Every week, she walks her designated stretch of riverbank, smartphone in hand, ready to document any pollution. “On one occasion, I documented waste dumping through photographic evidence. Authorities swiftly traced the source and cleaned the waste within hours - demonstrating the responsive governance that enables meaningful environmental progress.” The path hasn’t been without obstacles. “Early on, language barriers sometimes hampered my reports,” she admits. “And confronting the pollution - industrial runoff, floating garbage - tested my resolve.”

Her breakthrough came when she took part in a community clean-up initiative, working with neighbors and students to remove large amounts of trash while raising awareness about river conservation. “The area now has more proper waste receptacles and containment barriers,” she noted. “Where garbage once accumulated, I now see residents fishing - that’s the real measure of progress.” Dr. Kashif’s environmental work complements her role as an IB Environmental Systems teacher at an international school. “I bring river conservation into my classroom,” she explains, showing student projects inspired by her patrols. “I often share my experiences as a river inspector to illustrate concepts such as ecosystem health, biodiversity, pollution impacts and community action.

It helps students see the tangible effects of what they learn and inspires them to think about their own roles in sustainability.” Dr. Kashif’s civic engagement spans a wider range of social causes beyond environmental protection. In 2016, she was appointed as the “Anti-Drug Abuse Ambassador” for Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Town, applying insights gained from her earlier volunteer work in U.S. hospitals. The fruits of her community service are evident in her home - Shanghai’s 2019 Outstanding Volunteer Award and other recognitions sit proudly alongside the children's books used in her volunteer reading sessions.

“After our storytime about ocean conservation, the children began implementing practical environmental protections in their daily lives,” she explains with visible satisfaction. “This tangible impact demonstrates education’s transformative power.” Now, Dr. Kashif is looking to bridge her two homelands. “I share Shanghai’s models with Pakistani community groups,” she says, discussing plans to suggest the river chief system for Lahore’s waterways. “Imagine combining Pakistan’s resilience with China’s systematic approach - we could create something transformative.”

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China