March 01, 2007	Thursday	Safar 11, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The four-day general assembly of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians Conference on environment and development was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Wednesday.

Mr Aziz emphasised the need for taking measures for food, water and energy security, urging the world community to work in unison to sustain the process of economic development, besides undertaking measures on environment issues.

He said with increasing water demand, Pakistan was becoming a water scarce country.

Member countries of the Asia-Pacific should undertake a holistic approach to ensure water and food security through water preservation, he said and added: “We need to evolve a comprehensive strategy to achieve sustainable development worldwide.”

Mr Aziz said there was a need to address the environmental issues along with proper utilisation of water resources.

Water conservation and sustainable development in the wake of increasing demand, persistent droughts, water scarcity and environmental pollution the conference would be helpful to prepare recommendations for water and food security, he said.

Mr Aziz said agricultural productivity, economic development and provision of clean drinking water and sanitation were the major challenges so there was a need to conserve water and find ways and means for its judicious use.

He said consumption of water at the global-level had been doubling every 20 years, more than twice the rate of population growth. He said: “We need to move from fragmented approaches towards an integrated water resources management.”