LAYYAH, Aug 25: Indus is the lifeline of Pakistan as 85 per cent of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on its waters.

Dr Yasmeen Rashid, head of Pani Pakistan NGO, said this at an event entitled `Water Mela’ held here on Saturday.

She said the event was part of a project to sensitise masses on the importance of Indus and to stress the need for conserving and not polluting its waters.

She said 44 districts of the country had been targeted under the project, and in the first phase seminars were held at two colleges in each district and students were made aware of the water situation in Pakistan.

She said four `Water Champions’ were selected through a series of declamation contests in every selected district and brought together in the respective provincial capitals to attend capacity-building workshops.

These workshops, she said, were held at Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi to equip water champions with critical knowledge of all related issues through lectures and panel discussions. She hoped these champions would become agents of change to help address water related issues in their own districts.

A 26-day `Indus Walk 2007’ was also being held under the project. As many as 80 participants from all over the country were journeying along the Indus to highlight the river’s importance. The started from Skardu and it will end at Kety Bander, Karachi.