Pakistani official argues for mutual cooperation on trans-boundary water issues

Official Spin has a press release from Pakistan: Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi has said that cooperation is the most logical response to trans-boundary water management issues. The need of the hour is to think in global terms to address cross border water scarcity issues caused by Climate Change. He expressed these views while addressing in regional workshop for journalists on “Sharing our Resources: A vision for addressing cross border water scarcity caused by climate change” organized by LEAD, Pakistan here today.

Journalists from India and Pakistan, representatives of partner organizations LEAD Pakistan, DFID, One UN Joint Program on Environment and Commonwealth Foundation and other high officials of Ministry of Environment participated in this workshop.

Environment Minister further said in his address that Water is at the centre of everything. From climate change to decreasing energy and food supplies to economic meltdowns, water remains at the heart of it all. It is a vicious cycle that warns of local water crisis going global if relevant links are not addressed and resolved. …. He also told that the picture is bleaker for countries like Pakistan and India, where economy is based on agriculture.

…Federal Minister said that There is not much evidence of due attention being paid to awareness raising or focusing on the need to adopt climate change coping mechanisms. Conservation of water and land resources is vital. He emphasized that it is our common responsibility to put in place effective measures with the active participation of all stakeholders…..