Pakistan Can Become Highly Water-Stressed Country By 2040 - Minister (PHOTO)
Date
11/14/2024 7:13:21 AM
(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 14. Pakistan can
face a high-level water deficit by 2040, the country's Finance
Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said at a panel session themed
"Addressing Glacial Melting in Central and West Asia through
Glaciers to Farms (G2F): Climate Change and Regional Cooperation"
in Baku today, Trend reports.
He asserts that this can profoundly impact the agricultural
sector, which engages a substantial segment of the nation's labor
force and plays a pivotal role in contributing approximately 24
percent to the GDP.
The rapid melting of glaciers will also impact global and
regional food security, as Pakistan is one of the leading producers
and exporters of rice in the world, he explained.
"As a country dependent on glaciers, Pakistan fully supports the
G2F initiative. Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to
climate change, despite contributing less than one percent to
global emissions. We recognize the need to implement innovative and
sustainable solutions to protect our water resources and
agriculture, as Pakistan has one of the largest glacier areas in
the world," the minister added.
He noted that the 2022 floods highlighted Pakistan's
vulnerability to climate disasters: more than a third of the
country was flooded, leading to widespread infrastructure damage,
loss of livelihoods, and harm to agriculture.
"This catastrophic event underscored the urgent need for
climate-resilient agricultural practices and the strengthening of
water resources.
Pakistan is committed to enhancing water security through modern
water management systems, promoting climate-smart agriculture,
strengthening the resilience of local communities, and fostering
regional cooperation to combat the impacts of climate change on
water resources," he emphasized.
The minister also added that Pakistan is firmly committed to
closely collaborating with the Asian Development Bank, the Green
Climate Fund, and other international partners for the successful
implementation of the G2F initiative. By taking decisive action, a
more resilient and stable future for the country can be built.
MENAFN14112024000187011040ID1108885812
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.