Pakistan to Restore Health of Indus Basin, Major Rivers under ‘Living Indus’ Project: Minister

• Engaging the Society to Eradicate the Water Contamination of the Indus River

By Muhammad Arif

Islamabad: “The water of the Indus River had contaminated to the extent that it was necessary to engage the society to conserve water and maintain its quality”, this was stated by Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman while meeting with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan Julien Harneis here on Tuesday.

To restore sustainable water resources for Pakistan, the minister informed the UN official that inter-provincial consultations were held by the climate ministry and the provincial chief secretaries were taken on board the regarding ‘Living Indus’ project to restore the health of the Indus Basin as well as the major rivers of Pakistan.

She said the “Living Indus” initiative hoped to restore and repair the natural resources and ecosystems of the basin to ensure that they were resilient to climate change. “The need is to expedite climate financing for the project and design top priority interventions with the support of the cabinet and the provinces. These priorities can be undertaken in phases,” said the minister.

Amid the water scarcity crisis looming over Pakistan due to Climate Change, Pakistan has launched ‘Living Indus’ project aimed to restore the health of the Indus Basin as well as the major rivers that feed the homes, Agriculture farms and industry around Pakistan.

Research data shows many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed causing water shortages. Also, rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. And Pakistan’s water taps will run dry by 2025 for which an effect strategy is needed to cope the disaster challenge for Green Pakistan.