Nestlé Pakistan, in partnership with WWF-Pakistan and Lahore University of Management-Water Informatics and Technology Centre hosted on Friday a panel discussion on "water for livelihoods" in line with the theme for this year's United Nations-World Water Day, which is "better water, better jobs". The two-hour discussion session among experts from academia, private practitioners, non-profit and government sectors highlighted how each the sector contributes to securing livelihoods associated with the water industry. Four questions were put to the panel - made up of Doctors Kauser Abdulla Malik, Pervaiz Amir, Muhammad Aslam and Ali Hasnain Sayed.
The questions were set on rural and urban development, policy and law and business and economy. Khurram Zia, the Country Business Manager of Nestlé Waters, said, "Water is a fast depleting resource that is shared among us as individuals, farmers, industry, the environment and communities. Nestlé is committed to being a water steward and that means ensuring our operations - agriculture value chain to industrial processes - are efficient and that we collaborate on initiatives that encourage preservation of water resources in the long term."
Hammad Naqi, the WWF-Pakistan Director General, highlighted the importance of water for Pakistan. "Our consumption patterns have become highly unsustainable, as we are not just depleting the groundwater supply but also contaminating the rivers leading to polluted aquifer. WWF supports programmes and partnerships which aim to address this massive challenge."
Dr Abubakr, the Director of the Water Informatics and Technology Centre, said the centre was proud to partner with Nestlé and WWF-Pakistan. He spoke about the development of smart water infrastructures which will lead to efficient water resource management. He gave the example of inequality in terms of free-flowing water availability that led to women walking for more than six hours just to fetch water to perform their daily chores. Efficient water management would help avoid such tedious, unpaid jobs.
Abrar Ahmad, the Factory Manager of Nestlé Pakistan's Sheikhupura Factory, signed a special commitment document pledging the responsible use of water resources both at the Nestle Factory, as well as in its catchment area. The document signing is part of the implementation of the Alliance for Water Stewardship standard at the factory. The Nestlé Sheikhupura Factory is the first site in Pakistan as well as the Nestlé world to start implementing the AWS standard which promotes better management of site-specific water use and the water catchment areas to address shared water concerns related to quality, quantity and governance.