2 weeks Ago
Pakistan canface a high-level water deficit by 2040, the country's FinanceMinister Muhammad Aurangzeb said at a panel session themed"Addressing Glacial Melting in Central and West Asia throughGlaciers to Farms (G2F): Climate Change and Regional Cooperation"in Baku today, reports. He asserts that this can profoundly impact the agriculturalsector, which engages a substantial segment of the nation's laborforce and plays a pivotal role in contributing approximately 24percent to the GDP. The rapid melting of glaciers will also impact global andregional food security, as Pakistan is one of the leading producersand exporters of rice in the world, he explained.
"As a country dependent on glaciers, Pakistan fully supports theG2F initiative. Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries toclimate change, despite contributing less than one percent toglobal emissions. We recognize the need to implement innovative andsustainable solutions to protect our water resources andagriculture, as Pakistan has one of the largest glacier areas inthe world," the minister added.
He noted that the 2022 floods highlighted Pakistan'svulnerability to climate disasters: more than a third of thecountry was flooded, leading to widespread infrastructure damage,loss of livelihoods, and harm to agriculture. "This catastrophic event underscored the urgent need forclimate-resilient agricultural practices and the strengthening ofwater resources. Pakistan is committed to enhancing water security through modernwater management systems, promoting climate-smart agriculture,strengthening the resilience of local communities, and fosteringregional cooperation to combat the impacts of climate change onwater resources," he emphasized.
The minister also added that Pakistan is firmly committed toclosely collaborating with the Asian Development Bank, the GreenClimate Fund, and other international partners for the successfulimplementation of the G2F initiative. By taking decisive action, amore resilient and stable future for the country can be built..
