ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan Friday said Pakistan has 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 here, he said nine, five, three and two wetlands had been established in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa respectively.
The minister said: “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 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.
The minister said the theme of World Wetlands Day 2018 was “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future”. The UN Water estimates that 90 percent of all natural disasters were water-related.
Mushahidullah Khan 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.
He said Pakistan was a signatory to the Convention on Wetlands, which was of an international importance also known as Ramsar Convention.
It is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
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