Speakers Highlight The Importance Of Access To Clean Water, Sanitation, Hygiene

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Mar, 2018 ) :UET Peshawar in collaboration with UNICEF, Watsan Cell and WSSP, organized an awareness seminar to commemorate the World Water Day with a theme on "Nature for Water" here on Thursday.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Hussain was the chief guest on this occasion. He said, every year, on March 22, is commemorated as the World Water Day with the objective to focus on the importance of access to clean water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and advocacy for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

This year, 2018, is celebrated with a major theme "Nature for Water" aimed at exploring nature-based solutions (NBS) to the water challenges that the world is facing. Dr. Rashid Rehan, Director National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning UET Peshawar said, with a gradual and consistent increase for global demand at 1 pc, according to the world water report 2018, the vast majority of the growing demand will occur in countries with developing or emerging economies.

To handle this challenge, the UN Sustainable Development Goals have primarily focused to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all till 2030.

The speakers highlighted that Pakistan as one of the water-stressed countries in the world needs drastic steps to improve the practices for better water management resources.

A number of researches, reports, and observations support the evidence that Pakistan may run dry soon therefore remedial actions are required at all levels. They highlighted the efforts of government, NGO's and urged academia and industry to work jointly in resolving this challenge.

At the end, a video competition was held amongst university students presented their thoughts about the event and brainstormed ideas on how to spread the important messages to the wider community.

The winners were given cash prizes. Representatives from the Government including Secretary Energy and Power Department KP, Naeem Khan, Chief Engineer, Public Health Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bahramand, UNICEF's WASH Specialist Sajad Akbar and Khen Zeb CEO WSSP were present on the occasion. The event was followed by an awareness walk at the end.