"Despite the fact that access to clean drinking water is the basic human right, around one billion people living in developing countries don't have access to it," Human Rights experts disclosed this while addressing a seminar here at a hotel on Monday.
On the eve of "International Human Rights Day", Human Rights Group of Pakistan (HRGP) has organised this kind of seminar titled "Water as Corporate Social Responsibly: Access to clean drinking water as most violated human right." The seminar was attended by host of provincial ministers, high ranking government officials, representatives of humanitarian agencies, diplomats and experts and stakeholders of water sector.
Addressing the seminar, Senior Minister for Education Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said the government led by President Asif Ali Zardari was making all out efforts to ensure, protect and promote the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan. He said that earlier the villages of the remote areas were forced to drink contaminated drinking water but the government had installed filtration plants, ultra-filtration plants and reverse osmosis plants in these areas to ensure provision of safe and clean drinking water to the masses, he added.
Earlier, HRGP Chairman Dr Sheir Ali Rizvi said the day was very important and significant as it was observed as International Human Rights Day to commemorate adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Right by the UN General Assembly in 1948. In Pakistan lack of access to clean and safe drinking water causes million of people's death every year, as nearly 1.2 million people die each year due to water-borne diseases, he added.
He said in Sindh, the situation had been very critical as in rural areas, poor drinking water quality, lack of access to clean drinking water, and sanitation were the major culprits in causing of diarrhea especially in children. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon acknowledged that human rights situation in the country was not exemplary, but democratic government of PPP has improved the situation a lot during its over four years period.
He said the government was and had been committed to ensure all human rights of the citizens and manifestation of its commitment was the establishment of a separate and dedicated department of human rights in Sindh. He called for joint efforts by the government, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to improve human rights situation. He criticised the western media for depicting and portraying bleak picture of human rights in Pakistan.
David James, International Trade Manager Pak Oasis Industries, gave a detailed presentation about the company's operation and strategies and highlighted that the company's projects in rural areas of Sindh. Ramzi Bolued, a water sector expert gave presentation on "Water Scarcity in Africa" and said Africa could benefit from the success stories of Pakistan, where the government, corporate sector and other stakeholders were striving to provide access to clean drinking waters even in the remote and far-flung rural areas. The seminar was also addressed by Nadia Gabol, Co-ordinator to Chief Minister Sindh for human rights, Consul General of Germany Dr Tilo Klinner, Soenke Ziesche, head of UN Co-ordination for Humanitarian Affairs and others.