Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing pressing water management and food security issues.
The minister expressed it while addressing an event of the Pakistan Water Week 2024, a five-day international conference that brings together water scientists, academics, government officials, representatives of development agencies, and policy experts from home and abroad to discuss the country’s water issues.
The conference focuses on the theme “Building a Climate-Resilient Future: Pathways for Food, Water, and Food Security in Pakistan.” It was organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Over 30 international experts in water and climate are attending the event in person, with an additional 50 participating virtually.
The planning minister emphasized that water resources are vital for life and are the foundation for food security, economic stability, and social well-being.
He stated that water and food security are critical challenges of our time, affecting billions of people worldwide. According to the World Bank, over 2.2 billion individuals lack access to safe drinking water. In Pakistan, the situation is even more alarming. Our per capita water availability has significantly decreased from 5,600 cubic meters in the 1950s to under 900 cubic meters today, which is well below the water scarcity threshold of 1,000 cubic meters per person.
He said we have made significant investments to safeguard Pakistan’s resources. Our national water policy, launched in 2018, outlines strategic goals and targets to achieve sustainable water management by 2030. Today, we allocate 12.2% of the public sector development program to water resources, with rupees 98 billion dedicated to the critical sector in the current fiscal year alone.
“I encourage the International Water Management Institute to collaborate with the planning commission in formulating a scientific roadmap to tackle the environmental, climate, and social challenges impacting Pakistan’s water and food security,” he stated.
Director General IWMI Mark Smith highlighted that collaboration and innovative strategies are essential for achieving climate-resilient solutions in a world increasingly affected by climate change.
Mark Smith emphasized the urgent need for collective action among water community partners to address the growing uncertainties surrounding our water resources.
Director, Water, Food, and Ecosystem at IWMI, Dr Mohsin Hafeez, shared Pakistan Water Week, an initiative to strengthen stakeholder relationships and foster innovative solutions to the country’s pressing water security challenges.
“Water security is vital for Pakistan’s future. Through this event, we aim to bring together experts, policymakers, and community leaders to address the critical issues surrounding our water resources collaboratively, ” Mohsin remarked.
