Islamabad, 7 December 2021 (TDI): The President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, addressed an International Conference on “Needs for Sustainable Water Management in Climate Crisis for Indus Basin” in Islamabad on 6 December.
Dr. Alvi highlighted that the consumption of water is rapidly increasing due to urbanization. He added climate change is a prime factor affecting the reliability of water resources across the globe. The issue is also raising concerns about the future of water availability to next generations.
He also stated that Pakistan’s increasing vulnerability to climate change requires urgent action on water management. The country also needs to ensure an improved system of water conservation at the national level.
The President emphasized that the country needs to undertake initiatives to converse water resources such as policy on water-pricing. Moreover, the masses must be educated to save valuable commodities.
Furthermore, the President highlighted the signing of the Indus Water Treaty in 1960. He mentioned that sustainable and equitable water distribution between the states leads towards an organized functioning of bilateral and multilateral relations.
Additionally, the President urged the states to take collective measures to combat the issue of water scarcity. Shedding light on the climate apocalypse, he also mentioned several aspects of global warming. This includes melting glaciers, heat waves, shortage of rainfall, water scarcity and floods.
He also underlined the practices adopted to reduce water consumption. This includes drip irrigation instead of flood farming, water recycling, and reallocating water for more valuable uses.
Remarks of Federal Minister for Science and Technology
Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Senator Shibli Faraz, said water conservation and management is an issue of major concern for the government in view of the depleting groundwater resources. To improve water governance, he said, data sharing is important.
He also mentioned that a recent development took place between the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and Capital Development Authority. The two sides have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on artificial groundwater recharge. This makes Islamabad the first with such an arrangement.
Director-General IWMI Remarks
Director-General International Water Management Institue (IWMI), Mark Smith, was also present at the occasion. He highlighted that water security is ringing the alarms of global halls like never before.
Stressing on the need to take urgent measures he said, “We have to wake up to climate change. We have to be clear that climate change is water change, and that therefore water security has never been more important or more urgent”.
Mark Smith also said, “This conference should transform the trends for water management in Pakistan to protect the oppressed and marginalized communities and all the people of Pakistan.”
IWMI Country Representative Remarks
Additionally, Country Representative IWMI, Dr. Mohsin Hafeez, warned that Pakistan would be facing water scarcity by 2035, especially in the face of climate change. The COVID-19 has also brought forth the importance of strengthening the resilience of water supply systems. Pakistan needs to redouble its efforts to achieve the goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country on its centenary anniversary in 2047.
He stated that states are witnessing a spate of low levels of challenges due to climate change. He further added that water week provides the best platform to learn about international scientific practices. It also provides guidance for future investment to develop more climate-resilient water and land solutions in the Indus Basin.
Pakistan Water Week 2021 International Conference
The Ministry of Science and Technology, through International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan is organizing the conference “Needs for Sustainable Water Management in Climate Crisis for Indus Basin.” The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land, and Ecosystems (WLE) are also collaborating in this.
The conference, first of its kind, will continue till December 9. It will navigate new ways of digital innovations, climate-resilient solutions, nature-based solutions, the role of women, and media in the context of water management.
Moreover, it is aimed at bringing together academics, government officials, NGOs, and policy experts from home and abroad to discuss the issue of water scarcity and also chalk out plans for managing it.
