ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: Local and international experts have asked Pakistan to efficiently utilise its existing water resources for increasing its agricultural productivity to the level of other major agricultural countries of the world and preserving water sources for the coming generations.

They were speaking at a seven-day workshop on water management policies for agriculture which started here on Monday. Water experts from Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Pakistan are participating in the workshop.

The ministry of food, agriculture and livestock has, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Islamic Development Bank and Economic Cooperation Organisation, organised the workshop.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mohammad Saleem Khan Jhagra, additional secretary, Minfal said the worldwide demand for water was increasing in all its uses due to increasing population, urbanisation, demand for food, industrial growth and overall expansion in economic activities. —Our Reporter