President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi in a video message on Friday emphasised on conservation of water and urged citizens to utilise water adequately.
Pakistan is a water-stressed country, he said, adding that some of the factors behind the shortage of water can be global warming and misuse of the resource.
By 2025 Pakistan is likely to face acute shortage of water and measures should be taken in this regard, he added.
The president said that Chief of Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar and Prime Minister Imran Khan had initiated the dam fund, urging overseas Pakistanis to pay heed to the project.
He said that the government would make sure that agriculture farming did not waste water and instead of methods such as flood irrigation, drip or spray irrigation methods should be employed.
The president said that lining of water canals and water ways should be taken care of. He said that the people in urban areas should be extra careful while consuming water.
“The government will play its part, championing the cause, but as citizens you people should make it your civic responsibility too,” he said.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Imran Khan appealed to overseas Pakistanis to contribute to the dam fund.
“I urge overseas Pakistanis to contribute to this fund. If every overseas Pakistani contributes to this we will be able to construct the dams and our reserves will also improve,” the premier said while urging Pakistanis in Europe and the US to contribute at least $1000 each.
Published in Daily Times, September 15th 2018.
