Altaf Hamid Rao.
MIRPUR (AJK), (Parliament Times) : Like the world over, international water day was also observed in Azad Jammu Kashmir on Friday with renewal of pledge and resolve to continue performing individual and collective role to save water besides to encourage the sincere efforts at the national level for the establishment of more water reservoirs to meet the future needs of water for the speedy progress and prosperity of the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
World Water Day is observed across the globe every year on March 22.
World Water Day 2024:
“Water has a great significance for our lives. From drinking to cooking to bathing, water is resource that is irreplaceable in our daily lives. Most of the water that we use for day-to-day activities comes from groundwater”, said expert Sardar Idrees Mahmood, Divisional Director, Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) of AJK government while addressing a meeting held to mark the day here on Friday..
The simple but impressive ceremony was hosted under the auspices of the Environment Journalists Forum Mirpur Division. It was addressed among others by Pioneer of Water Filteration Plants in Mirpur on self-help basis philonthropist Dr. Khalid Yousaf, Retired Secretary Information AJK government Shoukat Majeed Mallick, President Environment Journalists Forum Mirpur District and members Environment Protection Council of AJK govt. Altaf Hamid Rao, former Secretary General Kashmir Press Club Mirpur-AJK and senior journalist Sohrab Ahmed Khan, Retd Director Azad Kashmir Radio Mirpur Shakeel Muhammad Chaudhry Advocate, ex President Mirpur District Bar Association Kamran Tariq Ch. AJK Chapter President of PPP ( Shaheed Bhutto) Muneer Chaudhry Advocate and others addressed the Orientation Session on Water Quality and Quantity Profile of AJK and Future Challenges, held on this occasion.
” Natural resources play a very important role in ensuring that we have a stable and healthy lifestyle”, Idrees said adding that the importance of freshwater was optimal for good health.
Retd Secy Information AJK govt. Shoukat Majeed Mallick while speaking on this occasion said that following the rising population, the usage of groundwater is increasing while the availability of water was gradually at the verge of decline the world over, he underlined.
Shoukat urged the need to buckle up and work together in preserving groundwater to ensure that we do not run out of one of the most important natural resources.
He said that availability of hygienic drinking water has become the world problem in the present era. Emergency steps are required to be taken to ensure the supply of hygienic water the world over, they emphasized.
The water experts showed grave concern over the impending worst water crises in the country including AJK due to the reported gradual dryness of rivers following the blatant violation of international norms on use of water and river treaties on the part of India.
Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Khalid Yousaf emphasized the need of focusing fullest attention to establish more water reservoirs in Pakistan with special focus to get the country rid of the grim water crises to meet the present and future water requirements for bringing about progress and prosperity of the country.
Speakers strongly suggested for immediate enforcement of water policy in the country including AJK to ensure the importance and due usage of water resources in view of the future needs of this greatest natural necessity of the human life and for other much required and permanent purposes.
Earlier while inaugurating the meetinh Div. Director EPA AJK Sardar Idrees Mahmood suggested for launching an integrated awareness program at the national as well as regional level to apprise the masses of their due role for safety and protection of the water resources besides to discourage excessive use of water.
Sardar Idrees also warned of the future challenges with emphasis for the individual and collective national responsibility of the masses especially the concerned stake holders both in the private and public sectors to ensure the safety of water through discouraging its misuse through individual and collective role.