ISLAMABAD
\nPresident Dr Arif Alvi says that Pakistan needs to employ more innovative and less water-intensive practices, such as drip and spray irrigation in agriculture to avert the looming water shortage crisis.
\nHe said this at an international conference, Pakistan Water Week 2023, which focused on \u2018Transformative Pathways for Water and Food Systems in a Climate Resilience in Pakistan\u2019. The event was organised by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in partnership with the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) through the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) and support from UNICEF, GIZ Pakistan.
\nExperts in water management, agriculturalists, government officials, and business leaders from different parts of the world discussed practical strategies to tackle water scarcity and enhance the skills of the general public.
\n\u201cThe agriculture sector consumes around 95% of the country\u2019s water, requiring immediate planning and reforms to improve efficiency,\u201d Mr Alvi said.
\nHe pointed out that Pakistan\u2019s water crisis is a pressing issue, worsened by population growth, urbanization, industrialization, depletion of resources, environmental problems, climate change, and irrational human behavior.
\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great week where we had to engage with a lot of people from Pakistan and outside who\u2019ve seen a lot of external speakers coming in and sharing their practice practices,\u201d Mark Smith, Director General, IWMI, told media sidelines of the event.
\n\u201cIt was vital to have this dialogue, especially in a water-scarist country. Our overarching goal is to contribute meaningfully to constructing a future characterized by resilience and sustainability, particularly in the realms of water, food, and ecosystems.\u201d
\nDirector Water, Food and Ecosystems, IWMI, Dr Mohsin Hafeez, said the conference will provide valuable insights to government and policymakers to build Pakistan\u2019s resilience.
\nMeanwhile, the Director General PCRWR, Dr. Hifza Rasheed, said Water Week is a pivotal platform, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders. \u201cAs we reflect on its significance, it becomes evident that this annual event not only provides opportunities for meaningful dialogue but also lays the foundation for sustainable water management practices.\u201d
\nThe five-day event, held for the third time in Islamabad, welcomed more than 10,000 participants in person and online from 15 countries and included the winners of the water board game, essay writing, poster, and debate competitions.
\nThroughout the week, participants engaged in sessions and side events, including Technologies and Innovations: Responding to the Challenges of Water and Food Security,\u201d focused on cutting-edge technologies and innovations in Pakistan offering solutions to the complex challenges. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD President Dr Arif Alvi says that Pakistan needs to employ more innovative and less water-intensive practices, such as drip and spray irrigation in agriculture to avert the looming water shortage crisis. He said this at an international conference, Pakistan Water Week 2023, which focused on \u2018Transformative Pathways for Water and Food Systems in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":373682,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-373703","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n