(Web Desk) - Federal Minister for Water Resources and Petroleum Dr Musadik Masood Malik has called for adopting more innovative and less water-intensive practices in agriculture to avoid the looming water shortage crisis in the country.
He was speaking at the concluding session of the international conference, Pakistan Water Week 2024, which focused on the theme “Building a Climate-Resilient Future: Pathways for Food, Water, and Food Security in Pakistan”.
The annual mega event, organised by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan, brought together scientists, academics, government officials, representatives of development agencies, and policy experts from home and abroad.
Pakistan’s agriculture sector consumes around 90% of the country’s water, requiring immediate planning and reforms to improve efficiency,” Mr Malik said.
The minister said the country's water crisis is a pressing issue, worsened by population growth, unplanned urbanisation, industrialisation, resource depletion, environmental problems, climate change, and irrational human behaviour.
He pointed out gaps in Pakistan’s current water management systems, particularly the lack of an early warning system to prevent floods and other disasters.
Director General IWMI Dr Mark Smith highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovative strategies for achieving climate-resilient solutions in a world increasingly affected by climate change.
Speaking on the occasion, Director, Water, Food, and Ecosystem at IWMI, Dr Mohsin Hafeez said, “Water security is vital for Pakistan’s future. Through this event, we aim to bring together experts, policymakers, and community leaders to collaboratively address the critical issues surrounding our water resources.”