ISLAMABAD: In order to commemorate World Water Day 2017, Nestlé Pakistan in collaboration with SDPI (Sustainable Development Policy Institute) and WWF organised a seminar on “Why Waste Water: Rethinking Water Resource Management in Pakistan”.

According to the Asian Development Bank Pakistan is one of the most “water-stressed” countries in the world, with a water availability of 1,000 cubic meters per person per yea. Given this context, the seminar highlighted some of the major issues in terms of wastewater management in the country and concerns pertaining to conservation of the existing water sources.

The seminar was structured around a panel discussion with leading experts including Waqar Ahmad (Head of Corporate Affairs, Nestlé Pakistan), Dr Rab Nawaz (Senior Director WWF), Abid Sulehri, (Executive Director SDPI), Dr Wolfgang-Peter Zingel (Visiting professor, Quaid-e-Azam University) Muhammad Ashraf (Chairman PCRWR). One of the key point agreed by all stakeholders, was the adoption of a multi-stakeholder approach to tackle this issue.

Speaking on the occasion, Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs Nestlé Pakistan said, “The problem of water scarcity in Pakistan is not limited to any one entity, rather it is a collective problem, for which we must take collective action. Our Water Stewardship initiative is a comprehensive plan on how we can reduce not just our own water footprint but also help save water outside our fence.”—PR