News
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Pakistan needs to conserve water: UKLONDON: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Adam Thomson in his blog on the water has stressed on need to conserve water to meet the future requirements of the country.
“This is a crucial matter for Pakistan. Tragically, the country has too much water right now as it struggles to recover from unprecedented and devastating floods. But, equally, the country has, far too little water as it copes with a rapidly expanding population.”
He assured that the UK will stand by Pakistan in this disaster. “It was one of the first and most generous countries to respond. We have committed a total of 134 million pounds (nearly 18 billion rupees) towards the relief efforts. The UK public has generously donated a further 56 million pounds (approximately 7.5 billion rupees) from their own pockets,” Thomson said.
The top diplomat wrote that this money has made possible a lot of good things, including one month’s food packages for nearly one million people and an emergency field camp in the worst affected area near Sukkur. However, according to Thomson, the British assistance and that of all the international humanitarian response combined will meet only a fraction of the total recovery requirement. “For ordinary Pakistanis affected by the floods, much will depend on how Pakistan itself responds.”
Praising the short term relief response by the federal and provincial authorities, the army and many wonderful Pakistani charities and individuals, the envoy said it has been as good as could be expected for a country facing a catastrophe more widespread than anything any country in the world has faced in recent decades. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk