ISLAMABAD – The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Margaret Adamson,and Secretary for Water Resources Shamail Khawaja, Tuesday signed amemorandum of understanding between Australia and Pakistan forcollaboration on water, food and energy security.
The MoU was signed in the margins of the Indus Knowledge Forum, a one-dayworkshop organised by the Australian and Pakistani Governments whereexperts from both countries, civil society and international partnersjoined senior officials to discuss responses to the triple challenges ofwater scarcity, food insecurity and energy shortages.
“Australia is committed to helping Pakistan achieve water, food and energysecurity,” Adamson said.
“We have been partnering with Pakistan in water and agriculture since the1980s. We welcome the recent momentum around these issues, which areinextricably linked to gender equality and the economy. We stand ready tocontinue to support Pakistan’s sustainable and inclusive development.”Further added.
Also participating in the Forum were Chairman of the Water and PowerDevelopment Authority, General Muzammil Hussain and Secretary of NationalFood Security, Dr Hashim Popalzai.
Discussions covered Pakistan’s National Water Policy, the need forintegrated thinking across the nexus between water, food and energysectors, factoring in gender dimensions and the role civil society plays insustainable management of the Indus Basin resources.
Over coming months, working groups of the Forum will develop a range ofproposals to present to the Government of Pakistan.