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[Pakistan] Water Gateway website launched
Water Gateway website launched
Business Recorder, Recorder Report 4/11/2003 www.brecorder.com
ISLAMABAD (April 11 2003): Pakistan has finalised long-term National
Water Policy, mainly focusing on holistic integrated water resources
management concept, which is likely to be announced by the end of the
next month after getting approval from the federal Cabinet.
"The National Water Policy will be based on the concept of integrated
water resources management to use all water resources for uplifting
agriculture, industry and human consumption in a sustainable way,"
said Riaz Ahmad Khan, Additional Secretary Incharge Water and Power,
while talking to journalists here on Thursday after launching
"Pakistan Water Gateway", a one-stop website for all water-related
information pertaining to Pakistan on internet.
The website (http://www.waterinfo.net.pk) has been launched by the
World Conservation Union of Pakistan with the support of Dutch
government.
Elaborating the policy, Riaz Ahmad Khan said that the government has
deliberated current water situation in depth with the stakeholders as
well as projections till 2025 for all the sectors, including
industry, agriculture and human consumption requirements.
Replying to a question, he said that the opinions of all the
beneficiaries have been incorporated in the proposed policy to make
it realistic.
To another question, he said, the government has also provided a
proper mechanism for financial sustainability to maintain the system
intact in the long run.
When asked if the government consulted provinces on National Water
Policy, Khan said that the federal government not only deliberated
with the provincial Irrigation departments but also with other
organisations like public health and environment, etc.
On the issue of recently increased tariff by Nepra, Riaz Ahmad Khan
indicated that tariff would be increased as per Nepra's
determination, however, the process would take few more days.
Earlier speaking at the website launching ceremony, he said that in
recent times water emerged as one of the most critical themes of
sustainable development, especially in the arid countries of the
developing world, like Pakistan.
The scarcity of water, he said, was fast becoming a source of major
conflict, not only between the countries, but also between different
regions and communities within countries.
Almost 70% of water across the globe was being directly consumed in
agriculture, whereas for a country like Pakistan the figure has
exceeded to 90%.
"Emotive issue and tension between the provinces on dams arouse due
to the dearth of reliable data and information on these subjects,"
Khan maintained.
Presenting the welcome address, Abdul Latif Rao, Country
Representative IUCN Pakistan, said that unfortunately Pakistan lacks
the culture of information sharing and open access.
Emphasising the importance of information and communication, he said,
the launching of Pakistan Water Gateway would bridge the gap between
the government, civil society, media, water experts, students,
researchers and the general public.
Dr Khalid Mohtadullah, a renowned water expert; Hasan Rizvi, Chief of
Communication and Knowledge Management Group, IUCN, Pakistan; and
Asif Zaidi also addressed the ceremony.
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