ISLAMABAD: Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, has underscored the critical link between water security and Pakistan’s food, economic, and national stability. In a keynote address at a seminar on Water Governance in Islamabad, he highlighted the national significance of water conservation, advocating for a comprehensive strategy beyond temporary measures to sustainably manage the country’s water resources.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the seminar, hosted by the SDGs Secretariat at Parliament House, addressed the urgent need for a national consensus on water issues, with Speaker Sadiq emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts across political lines. He called for prioritizing water harvesting and the development of water-recycling systems to bolster groundwater levels, alongside the construction of water reservoirs and small dams.

The event saw contributions from key figures, including Ms. Shaista Pervaiz, Convenor of the Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs, who stressed the sustainable management of water resources. Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, highlighted the lack of new water reservoirs over the past five decades, urging the expansion of storage capacity to counter climate change impacts and the “water weaponization” resulting from India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Attendees included members of parliament, government officials, and representatives from international organizations, who collectively echoed the call for prudent use of Pakistan’s water resources and effective oversight of related public policies to ensure long-term water security.