Islamabad Policy Research Institute organized National Dialogue Series (Session II) Roundtable on Managing Hyphenated Climate and Water Challenge: A Case Study of Pakistan on the 17th of July, 2019. This Dialogue entailed keynote address by the Chief Guest Honorable Engr. Shams Former Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and was moderated by Ambassador (R) Shafqat Kakakhel.
Mr. Lixin Gu, Sustainable Development Program Leader, World Bank Pakistan, Dr. Pervaiz Amir, Water Expert, Global Water Partnership, Mr. Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, CEO of Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) Pakistan on Impact of Climate Change, Dr. Imran Saqib Khalid, Research Fellow at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Mr. Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, Member Prime Minister Inspection Commission, Former Cabinet Secretary were amongst the speakers.
Recommendations generated from the dialogue are as follows:
- Water is a commodity and must be treated as such.
- Pakistan cannot continue business as usual water management. It is vital to reform water governance laws, policies, and institutions and infrastructure investments. The National Water Policy 2018 needs to be implemented in letter and spirit.
- The state needs to end its monopoly on water; invest immediately & heavily in storage capacity and water enforcement.
- Pakistan needs to be prepared for India’s attempts of using water as a coercive strategic tool.
- The state and citizenry need to become water wise.
