ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan on Friday said Pakistan had established 19 wetlands in its all four provinces, which were considered one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems supporting rich biodiversity and providing valuable products and services to human beings.
Talking to media in Islamabad, he said nine wetlands had been established in Sindh, five in Balochistan, three in Punjab and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Sustainable Wetland Management can bring strong political attention and economic opportunities for millions of people through wise use and the maintenance of key socio-economic values related to wetlands,” he said.
The minister said February 2 was being observed as World Wetlands Day to create awareness of these extremely valuable ecosystems that continue to be among the most threatened.
Mushahidullah said the theme of World Wetlands Day 2018 was “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future”. He said the UN Water estimated that 90 percent of all natural disasters were water-related.
The federal minister said the wetlands provided magnificent landscapes that attracted millions of people every year. Behind the beautiful vistas and scenes, the wetlands also underpin many services such as the availability of clean water, the recycling of wastes and protection from extreme weather events including disaster risk reduction, he added.
The minister said Pakistan was a signatory to the Convention on Wetlands which was of an international importance also known as Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty which provided the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
