'Recharge-Pakistan' gets PM's nod; to ensure optimum utilization of flood water : Zartaj Gul.

ISLAMABAD -- Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Friday said the prime minister had given his assent for 'Recharge-Pakistan' project which will ensure optimum utilization of flood water to augment fast-depleting aquifer in the country. In an exclusive interview with reporter, she said the project was an innovative and well-thought initiative under Ramsar Convention on Wetlands to which Pakistan was signatory for conserving its millions of acre feet water, discharged annually in the ocean.

Zartaj said the wetlands project was inexpensive and easy-to-build option for ensuring maximum storage capacity. It was the only way-out to efficiently recharge aquifer (underground water) which was fast depleting across the country due to uncontrolled water drilling and pumping, she added.

'The underground water has depleted below 1200 feet in Balochistan and the project includes setting up special wetlands sites there. The project mainly includes construction of wetlands at the banks of River Indus, comprising areas of Sindh and Punjab.'

The Minister of State said that this would also help restore migratory species declining visits to the region, along with revival of ecology. She said that the project had been forwarded to the Global Climate Fund (GCF) for formal approval to get international funding. She specifically mentioned that there were two projects of the ministry in the pipeline including energy-efficient stoves and easy loans for zigzag conversion of brick kilns to be given by the State Bank of Pakistan or Ehsaas Programme.

'The chairperson of Ehsaas programme has given me a very warm response in this regard", she added. The poor brick kiln owners will be given an easy and useful financial facility to carry out the conversion...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT