Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) on Friday held a seminar to commemorate World Water Day 2013.
Speaking at the seminar, experts revealed that despite having the largest irrigation system in the world, Pakistan had lost about two third of its water resources due to poor state of infrastructure and unpredictable climate changes.
“About two thirds of our water resources are lost in transmission and seepage,” Ministry of National Food Security and Research Federal Secretary Ahmed Buksh said while addressing the seminar.
He said that at least 68 million acre feet of water could be utilised be if the canal system was adequately repaired and maintained. Moreover, he stressed the need for addressing the issue of water resource management at local, national, regional as well as international levels.
PARC organised the seminar in collaboration with International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Planning Commission of Pakistan (PCP),Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP) and other national and international organisations.
Speaking on the occasion, FAST rector and former chairman of PARC and
ICIMOD board member, Dr Amir Muhammed said that agriculture sector had great potential to boost country’s economic growth and productivity.
He said that owing to increasing population, land use was increasing and water resources were decreasing, adding that there was a pressing need for future planning.
Furthermore, Dr Nadeem Amjad expressed the hope that the seminar would contribute towards development of strategies and action plans to promote water cooperation for sustainable water management in Pakistan.
In his detailed presentation Arif Mahmood gave a detailed perspective on Climate Change and Water Scarcity with special focus on Pakistan.