Pakistan’s population is projected to reach 315 million by 2050, which will require an additional 60 million acre-feet of water.
Vice President of the Pakistan People’s Party and Senator Sherry Rehman has stated in her message on World Water Resources Day.
She highlighted that Pakistan has more than 225 significant wetlands, 19 of which are designated under the Ramsar Convention, covering a total area of 1,343,807 hectares.
She emphasised that wetlands play a vital role in water security, environmental protection, and cultural heritage.
Senator further stated that although Pakistan contributes minimally to global carbon emissions, it faces severe impacts from climate change. ‘Wetlands help protect the country from extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and rising sea levels, she added.
She stressed that law, cooperation and mutual trust are essential for ensuring water security in South Asia. Violations of the Indus Waters Treaty and the failure to share water data could worsen future water shortages. Barriers to river flows threaten the lives, livelihoods, and food security of millions of people, she reiterated.
Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari stated that water must never be used as a tool of coercion and that any attempt to use water as a weapon against Pakistan must be firmly rejected. He warned that disruptions in river flows endanger millions of lives, livelihoods, and food systems.
In his message, President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of water resources. He noted that the day commemorates the adoption of the Water Resources Convention, also known as the Ramsar Convention, in 1971.
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