Water may cost more to help reduce waste
ISLAMABAD DECLARATION SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON SUPPLY CRISIS
The Islamabad Declaration, announced during the final session of the International Water Conference, has recommended urgent and long-term measures to overcome a looming water crisis, in which Pakistanis are already feeling the burden.
Investing in measures to increase water supply (by building dams) and manage consumption (through water pricing), appropriate water technologies, a water tax on the agricultural sector, and better coordination among different departments were some the key recommendations of the water declaration.
Fundamental right
Calling for measures for water conservation to preserve depleting water resources, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar said that the enforcement of basic rights should not be viewed as intrusion by one institution as it was the court’s duty to enforce the fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution.
He was speaking at the two-day international symposium on ‘Creating a WaterSecure Pakistan’, organised by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Islamabad on Saturday. International water experts from the US, Australia and South Africa attended the conference in which researchers presented their research papers in the five thematic sessions, after which a 20-point declaration was issued to address Pakistan’s looming water crisis.
Speaking at the symposium, President Dr Arif Alvi called for a careful study of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between Pakistan and India to safeguard the country’s water rights. The declaration also recommends “International Water Law should be taken advantage of by consistently putting forward Pakistan’s perspective before various international forums” while reviewing Pakistan’s strategy regarding IWT.
Building small dams
One of the key emphases of the conference was to invest in numerous small and large dams and reservoirs on a priority basis.
The report also suggests “it is imperative for Pakistan to invest in supply augmentation [dams and reservoirs] and ensure better utilisation of its groundwater, adopting appropriate water technologies [water recycling, desalinisation, and water harvesting] and manage consumption and use of water.”