ISLAMABAD: Stressing the need for collective action, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif yesterday said that strong political will and global leadership were vital to overcome the water crisis posing existential threat to nations around the world.

Addressing the “One Water Summit” on the Margins of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP-16) under the theme “Restore, Preserve, and Adapt”, PM Shehbaz expressed his profound gratitude to Saudi Arabia, France, and Kazakhstan, as well as the World Bank for organising the timely summit, to deliberate upon, one of humanity’s most pressing challenges.

He said: “Water is the lifeblood of the planet; a cornerstone of economic development, food security, and environmental sustainability.”

Speaking the summit in Riyadh, the premier said: “This life-sustaining resource, however, is coming under increasing stress. Nearly half of the world’s population is facing, water scarcity, for at least part of the year. Billions remain, without clean drinking water, as water pollution, is rising, at alarming levels.”

The country’s chief executive said that the water resources were fast depleting and degrading which was displacing millions, and causing, unprecedented destruction.

“This is not a distant threat, but an alarm bell, for collective action. Pakistan is no stranger to these challenges. Our rivers, glaciers and aquifers are increasingly vulnerable to the impact of climate change, and population growth.

He apprised the leaders at the summit that Pakistan was still grappling with the 2022, catastrophic floods, that caused, widespread damage, to its water resources and irrigation sector, in addition to affecting, millions of lives and livelihoods.

At the same time, he said droughts posed an equally potent threat to the country. “Nearly 70% of our land consists of arid and semi-arid areas, and around 30% of our population, is directly affected by drought-like conditions. Projected temperature increases in Pakistan, are significantly higher, than the global average,” he added.

The PM highlighted that such catastrophic disasters and challenges were likely to scale up further in the absence of concerted international actions as it was one of the top ten countries, most vulnerable due to climate change. Commenting on transboundary water management, he said that water transcended political boundaries, connecting nations and fostering shared ecosystems.

“Pakistan, therefore, attaches great importance to transboundary cooperation. The Indus Water Treaty, which governs, the sharing of the Indus Basin’s waters, is one example of such an arrangement.”

He added that the treaty witnessed unprecedented challenges in recent years, due to a number of factors, including construction of upstream dams, whereas its effective functioning was key to maintaining regional peace and stability.

The prime minister also shed light on the “Recharge Pakistan” initiative that aimed to address, climate-induced, flood risks, and mitigate drought impacts, through ecosystem based adaptations.

“We are also finalising a National Drought Plan that identifies, the most drought-affected areas, and proposes, effective response mechanisms, to mitigate, the impact of drought in these areas,” he said. The prime minister proposed a six-point agenda at the global level to overcome water-related challenges.

He advocated for the need of international cooperation and collaboration, to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”, as provided for in the SDG-6, exchange of knowledge and expertise, as well as transfer of technologies on innovative water management on priority.

He commended the visionary leadership, and initiative of Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to establish the global water organisation.

“We are proud to join this initiative, as one of its founding members and look forward to providing, all possible support, in achieving its important goals,” he said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 04 2024

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