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Launch of UN World Water Development Report 2020 in Pakistan
Islamabad, 30 September 鈥 UNESCO Islamabad in partnership with the , and in collaboration with , and the launched two reports; the UN World Water Development Report 2020, and PCRWR鈥檚 Groundwater Investigations and Mapping in the Lower Indus Plain. The launch was followed by a stakeholder consultation for the development of the 鈥淕roundwater Management Plan鈥 for Pakistan. The consultation aims to help the government of Pakistan with the long-term management of groundwater resources.
The World Water Development Report 2020 sheds light on the impact of climate change on the availability, quality and quantity of water needed for basic human needs, thus undermining the basic rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for billions of people. Such a situation will also hinder the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which ensures access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all. This presents a considerable challenge 颅as 2.2 billion people currently do not have access to safely managed drinking water, and 4.2 billion, or 55% of the world's population, are without safely managed sanitation.
The report on Groundwater Investigations and Mapping in the Lower Indus Plain provides information on areas where groundwater is under stress due to water depletion and quality deterioration. The report also identifies areas where usable groundwater is available. This information will help the stakeholders in the future for groundwater management.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Federal Minister for Science and Technology in his remarks said that the present government has substantially increased the water resources development budget of the country.
Ms. Patricia McPhillips, UNESCO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman, PCRWR, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz, USAID and Mr. Farid Alam, Director Programs, The Asia Foundation spoke on different aspects of water and climate change.
The UN World Water Report 2020 can be downloaded from:
PCRWR Groundwater Investigation and Mapping report can be downloaded from:
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