President Zardari Reaffirms Pakistan’s Commitment to Wetlands Conservation
Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands, stressing their critical role in environmental protection, public welfare, and national resilience.
In a message on World Wetlands Day, observed today, the President noted that Pakistan is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention of 1971, which promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources for present and future generations.
President Zardari highlighted that Sindh faces a disproportionate burden from wetland degradation due to historical water stress and rising sea levels. He said safeguarding wetland ecosystems is not only an environmental obligation but also essential for protecting livelihoods and strengthening the country’s resilience to climate change.
The President also expressed concern over unilateral actions by India affecting the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, a legally binding agreement that has governed equitable water sharing in the Indus Basin for decades. He warned that the suspension of treaty mechanisms, including the sharing of hydrological data, undermines trust and predictability at a time when climate pressures demand greater cooperation.
President Zardari emphasized that water should never be used as a tool of coercion, stating that the weaponization of water against Pakistan must be rejected. He cautioned that any disruption of river flows threatens millions of lives, livelihoods, and food systems in a country heavily dependent on the Indus Basin.
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