ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water Resources and Petroleum Dr Musadik Masood Malik has said that Pakistan needs to employ more innovative and less water-intensive practices in agriculture to avert looming water shortage crisis.

He was speaking at the concluding session of the Pakistan Water Week 2024, which focused on focused on the theme ‘Building a Climate-Resilient Future: Pathways for Food, Water, and Food Security in Pakistan’, says a press release.

The annual mega event, organised by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan to celebrate its 40th anniversary, brought together scientists, academics, government officials, representatives of development agencies and policy experts from home and abroad.

Mr Musadik said: “Pakistan’s agriculture sector consumes around 90pc of the country’s water, requiring immediate planning and reforms to improve efficiency.”

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He said the country’s water crisis was a pressing issue, worsened by population growth, unplanned urbanisation, industrialisation, resource depletion, environmental problems, climate change and irrational human behaviour.

He pointed out gaps in Pakistan’s current water management systems, particularly the lack of an early warning system to prevent floods and other disasters.

Director General IWMI Mark Smith highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovative strategies for achieving climate-resilient solutions in a world increasingly affected by climate change.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024