United Nations, October 26 (APP): At a meeting to prepare for the UN Water Conference in 2023, a senior Pakistani official advocated for upholding and carrying out the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan, a lower riparian state, “in text and spirit.”
In addition to climate change, Pakistan’s water vulnerability stems from its position as a lower-riparian state, according to Ambassador Munir Akram.
He addressed the many delegates present at the gathering that many of our catchment regions and their ecosystems cross boundaries.
The Pakistani diplomat stated of India, “Changes on the other side of the border have a direct influence on us.
He continued, “It is crucial that water-sharing accords, including the Indus Water Treaty, be respected and carried out in letter and spirit.
Pakistan is one of the top ten countries in the world for water scarcity and has historically been a top ten country for
climate vulnerability.
The economic development of Pakistan has been negatively impacted by recurrent spells of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, glacial lake outbursts, cyclones, and heat waves, according to Ambassador Akram.
The recent floods in Pakistan caused widespread destruction of essential infrastructure, the loss of thousands of lives, and the internal displacement of millions of people. This was due to an intense heat wave that melted away many of our glaciers and was followed by a “monsoon on steroids.”
He said as a result of the recent rains. The winter wheat crop’s planting season was already missed by a large number of Pakistani farmers, who have warned that this could lead to severe food shortages.
He claimed that Pakistan supports the 2023 water conference’s themes since they align with its top goals.
“We agree that improved standards and regulatory restrictions to control discharge into water bodies, ecological criteria for water quality, and maintaining run-off in our rivers for the maintenance of ecosystem services” are all necessary for effective water management.
In order to safeguard our freshwater resources, especially transboundary rivers, the Pakistani envoy advised preserving environmental principles including prudence, polluter pays, and no harm.
In order to protect the rights and obligations of lower and higher riparian governments, he stated, “we must ensure transboundary water cooperation.”
Additionally, Ambassador Akram emphasized the importance of making investments in resilient and sustainable infrastructures related to water in order to meet the targets and goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are focused on ending hunger and poverty.
At the UN headquarters in New York, 1,200 scientists, business executives, and members of civil society are gathering to talk about water and sustainability-related concepts that could revolutionize the field.
National representatives will be given access to the findings from roundtables on governance, capacity development, data and information, innovation, and financing.
The General Assembly President, Csaba Korosi, whose office coordinated the discussions, noted that the world was at a turning point and urged participants to “transition from reactive water management to proactive, science-based solutions to the water crisis.”
As the 77th session of the General Assembly’s slogan, Korosi invited attendees to debate game changers from the perspectives of “solidarity, sustainability, and science.”
