On International Water Day, Gauher Foundation launched its 'Water Awareness Programme' in various districts including Bahawalpur and Lodhran by conducting the seminar under the title of "Drinking Water Scarcity -Effective Strategies on National and Local Level."
The seminar was held in the main secretariat of 'Global Organisation for Human Empowerment and Rights.' A large number of young students, women, agriculturists and social workers attended the seminar.
Stage secretary Nazia Mushtaq started the seminar with the introduction of World Water Day. She said every year WWD is celebrated on 22nd of March. This year the theme of WWD is "Coping with Water Scarcity."
Renowned social activist and Executive Director of Gauher Foundation A G Chohan shed light on world-wide water scenario. He said water was a dwindling resource and water scarcity was a world-wide problem. About 1.2 billion people world-wide lack access to safe drinking water. Moreover, within next 25 years water's availability is likely to be decreased by 35 percent. He said problem was not water scarcity, but with the lack of social knowledge to plan and execute water policies. Water management can overcome water scarcity. Reservoirs and water filtration plants must be erected for safe drinking water, he stressed.
Shukaib Iftikhar, General Secretary of Social Development Organisation, elaborated the issues related to water scarcity. He said cultural and ethical issues, imbalance between availability and demand and the degradation of ground water and surface water quality - these all are the causes of water scarcity. He stressed to curb these problems on international and local level by adopting proper and practicable policies.
Rabia Bashir Hashmi described human and social dimensions of Pakistan's water policies. She discussed the issues as availability of water in rural and urban areas, scarcity of water, and poor quality of water. She said about 40 percent of the diseases in Pakistan are water borne and 25-30 percent of hospital admissions are connected to water borne bacterial diseases. She pointed out that Pakistan was water stressed country and by 2015 Pakistan can be a water scarce country. To save our country from this worst dilemma, every one should understand its responsibility.
Faiza Azhar explained the role of women, farmers and industrialists with respect to water safety and cleanliness on domestic level. Nazia Mushtaq discussed the local water scenario including Southern Punjab specially Bahawalpur. She said in Cholistan, water condition was so deplorable that the people were deprived even of drinking water.