Motif of celebrating ‘World Water Day’ is to create awareness about water significance as well as conservation methods: Syed Ihsan Ullah Waqas
LAHORE, March 22 (SABAH): Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan organized seminars, conferences and awareness drives across the country on the topic of rapid changes for sorting out issues of water on the ‘World Water Day’ observed on Wednesday.
In connection with this, a seminar was organized at the central office of Alkhidmat Foundation at Lahore wherein former chairman Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority Dr. Shakeel A. Khan, Vice President Alkhidmat Foundation Syed Ihsan Ullah Waqas, President Alkhidmat Central Punjab Ikramul Haq Subhani, water expert Amjad Saeed, Abid Bodla, Zafar Iqbal Watto, Dr. Qadeer Soharwardi, Hafiz Qaisar, Tariq Iltaf, Rehan Nadeem, Haji Farooq, Dr. Akhtar Rana, Shoaib Hashmi, experts of the water field and people from several walks of life participated.
Addressing the participants, Syed Ihsan Ullah Waqas stated that motif behind celebrating World Water Day was to inculcate awareness about the importance of water as well as methods of conservation of water for humanity. He stated that Alkhidmat Foundation was working on awareness campaign alongside on the different projects of clean drinking water while keeping in view needs of different areas across the country.
At present, he disclosed that more than 4.8 million individuals were being provided with potable water on daily basis through Alkhidmat’s 229 water filtration plants, 2541 wells, 12074 hand pumps, 1850 submersible pumps, 320 solar submersible pumps and 148 gravity flow water scheme. He added that Alkhidmat was putting efforts for creation of a healthful society through projects of clean drinking water.
Ikramul Haq Subhani stated that today’s water day invites us to play our part in protecting water from being polluted, conserving it for the coming generations as well as creating awareness on the matter. Shakeel A. Khan on the occasion appreciated Alkhidmat Foundation’s services rendered for the humanity.
In the light of prevailing water crisis, he stressed upon the need of doing collective efforts by all the social organisations. If Alkhidmat can play its part in sorting out water issues then it may also be expanded to the government level.
On the occasion, Zafar Iqbal Wattoo noted that Pakistan had gone below the ‘Water Stress Line’ since 1990 that signaled intense shortage of water in the country.
Afterwards in 2005, he furthered the water level lowered to its least level and it was feared that situation may get worsened in the country in the coming days which is why there is need to take prompt and effective measures for recycling water.
On the occasion, Hafiz Qaisar stated that Pakistan is an agriculture country where over 92% water is consumed for agriculture purposes and furthered that Punjab Agriculture Department was working for harmonizing the farmers with the new technologies as well as putting efforts to curtail useless consumption of water.
Rehan Nadeem on the occasion stated that unhygienic water causes a number of diseases in the people as a major portion of country’s economy was being consumed on the treatment of diseases in the hospitals.
Haji Farooq was of the view that there was no paucity of water in the country but better [management] system and solution to issues was need of the hour.
Senior media relations manager of Alkhidmat Foundation told the participants that Alkhidmat not only provided clean drinking water during the recent floods through mobile water filtration plants but it along with utilizing the land tracts it was supplying potable water to Tharparkar and Cholistan like areas through solar technology. Shields were also distributed among the respected guests.