Latest news with #WWF-Pakistan
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Karachi inches closer to severe water crisis: WWF
KARACHI: Karachi is edging dangerously close to a severe water crisis, as key freshwater sources that sustain the city face mounting stress. Experts signalled weaning over the fast-depleting Keenjhar Lake, Hub Dam, and underground aquifers, alerting that unsustainable extraction, climate change, and poor governance are dragging the city to acute water scarcity. President WWF-Pakistan Nadeem Khalid, speaking at a high-level workshop, said these water bodies are not merely supply points, but 'lifelines' that support millions of people, farms, and entire ecosystems. He was addressing the third workshop of the Collective Action Platform for Initiating the Policy Level Work and Strategic Planning for Resilience and Sustainability of Freshwater Ecosystems, held at a local hotel on Wednesday. The event gathered a wide spectrum of voices from water experts and government officials to industrial representatives and community leaders to explore collective action and nature-based solutions that can restore freshwater ecosystems while ensuring long-term water security for the metropolis. The discussions brought into sharp focus the mounting challenges confronting Pakistan's freshwater reserves, while offering hope through nature-based solutions (NbS); an approach that uses natural systems like wetlands, forests, and green infrastructure to safeguard water resources. Khalid stressed that beyond meeting daily needs, these ecosystems support agriculture, biodiversity, and entire communities that depend on them for survival. Dr. Masood Arshad, Senior Director Programme, WWF-Pakistan, echoed the concerns and shared a broader view of the organisation's ongoing efforts. He described Pakistan's urban water crisis as both immediate and intensifying, especially in metropolitan areas like Karachi and Lahore, which are reeling from water scarcity, pollution, and inefficient management. 'Karachi faces a shortage of water due to a rapid increase in population and industrial activities,' he noted. 'These factors, coupled with poor management of freshwater resources and climate change, have aggravated the water situation in the city.' Dr. Arshad also highlighted that unsustainable groundwater abstraction is further degrading fragile ecosystems such as the Indus Delta, Keenjhar Lake, and the Ravi River. He made a strong case for embracing nature-positive strategies that prioritize the restoration and conservation of freshwater ecosystems. 'We must act decisively to integrate ecosystem-based solutions into our water governance frameworks,' he urged, pointing to the interdependence between ecological health and water security. Sohail Ali Naqvi, Director Freshwater Programme at WWF-Pakistan, added that the water crisis is no longer a distant threat; it is already reshaping the urban and environmental landscape of Pakistan. 'Water scarcity is no longer a distant challenge, it is a present reality that requires collective and coordinated action,' he said. He stressed that nature-based solutions offer an integrated response that can address water-related challenges while also supporting climate resilience, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Naqvi spotlighted a newly launched initiative titled 'Building Water-Sensitive Societies: Collaborative Solutions for Freshwater Resilience and Sustainability.' Backed by GSK, a leading global biopharma company, the five-year project aims to transform how urban centres manage, protect, and restore their water systems. With a strategic focus on Karachi, Keenjhar Lake, and the Indus Delta in Sindh, as well as Lahore in Punjab, the project combines traditional infrastructure with innovative interventions. These include flood protection bunds, early warning systems, constructed wetlands, mosque-based ablution water reuse systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and alternative livelihood options. Several of these models were showcased at the event, giving participants a glimpse into how NbS can be operationalized on the ground. Naqvi also acknowledged corporate partners like GSK and Reckitt for advancing responsible water use under global frameworks such as the Alliance for Water Stewardship, which encourages industries to extend water accountability beyond their direct operations. As the workshop came to a close, a collective call was made to prioritize collaborative and cross-sectoral water governance. Speakers stressed that addressing water stress in cities and critical ecosystems requires not just robust policies but the involvement of all stakeholders—government bodies, civil society organisations, industries, and communities. With smarter water use, improved governance, and ecosystem restoration, Pakistan still has a chance to secure its water future. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
WWF-Pakistan seeks complete ban on single-use plastics
KARACHI: The WWF-Pakistan has urged the government to impose complete ban on single-use plastic production and consumption across the country, warning that plastic waste is aggravating the ongoing climate crisis and turning natural disasters into human tragedies. The appeal comes in the wake of widespread monsoon rains and flooding that have claimed more than 280 lives and inflicted extensive damage on the economy, infrastructure, and fragile ecosystems. In a statement issued during the Plastic-Free July campaign on Friday, WWF-Pakistan said that floating plastic waste and poor urban waste management have worsened the flooding in major cities. Plastic debris chokes drainage systems, causing prolonged waterlogging and widespread destruction of roads, bridges, buildings, and essential infrastructure. In areas with limited waste disposal services, the stagnant water has also triggered outbreaks of waterborne diseases, compounding the public health emergency. Describing plastic pollution as one of the most pressing environmental threats of our time, the organization pointed to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which highlights that global plastic production more than doubled between 2000 and 2019 — from 234 million tonnes to 460 million tonnes. If this trajectory continues, it will not only escalate health and ecological risks but also intensify climate change impacts. Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, emphasized the far-reaching consequences of plastic use. He warned that plastics break down into microplastics, contaminating freshwater resources, degrading soil fertility, and entering the food chain. He added that plastic production contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, a factor often overlooked in climate discussions. Khan also expressed concern over the plastic waste originating from upstream regions that flows into the Indus River and eventually reaches the Arabian Sea, harming both freshwater and marine biodiversity. Microplastics have become a growing concern as they now appear in the air, water, food systems, and even human organs, including the placenta of newborns. In response, WWF-Pakistan has ramped up its advocacy efforts by collaborating with government bodies and civil society to reduce plastic pollution through education, cleanup drives, and sustainable alternatives. The organization has trained more than 50 women in Karachi and Islamabad to convert hard-to-recycle multilayered plastics into useful products, generating income while reducing waste. In Karachi, WWF-Pakistan has mapped plastic leakage points along the coast and installed a litter boom at the fish harbour, retrieving over 2,500 tons of waste. Its Plastic Bank Initiative has also set up Plastic Recovery Banks in five major universities across the city, encouraging proper waste segregation and recycling through educational campaigns. The WWF-Pakistan is calling on citizens to reject plastic products and embrace eco-friendly alternatives, noting that systemic change is impossible without public participation. With the country facing increasingly severe climate events, the organization insists that eliminating single-use plastics is not just an environmental issue — it is a national imperative. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
WWF-Pakistan seeks complete ban on plastic use
KARACHI: The WWF-Pakistan has urged the government to impose complete ban on plastic production and consumption across the country, warning that plastic waste is aggravating the ongoing climate crisis and turning natural disasters into human tragedies. The appeal comes in the wake of widespread monsoon rains and flooding that have claimed more than 280 lives and inflicted extensive damage on the economy, infrastructure, and fragile ecosystems. In a statement issued during the Plastic-Free July campaign on Friday, WWF-Pakistan said that floating plastic waste and poor urban waste management have worsened the flooding in major cities. Plastic debris chokes drainage systems, causing prolonged waterlogging and widespread destruction of roads, bridges, buildings, and essential infrastructure. In areas with limited waste disposal services, the stagnant water has also triggered outbreaks of waterborne diseases, compounding the public health emergency. Describing plastic pollution as one of the most pressing environmental threats of our time, the organization pointed to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which highlights that global plastic production more than doubled between 2000 and 2019 — from 234 million tonnes to 460 million tonnes. If this trajectory continues, it will not only escalate health and ecological risks but also intensify climate change impacts. Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, emphasized the far-reaching consequences of plastic use. He warned that plastics break down into microplastics, contaminating freshwater resources, degrading soil fertility, and entering the food chain. He added that plastic production contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, a factor often overlooked in climate discussions. Khan also expressed concern over the plastic waste originating from upstream regions that flows into the Indus River and eventually reaches the Arabian Sea, harming both freshwater and marine biodiversity. Microplastics have become a growing concern as they now appear in the air, water, food systems, and even human organs, including the placenta of newborns. In response, WWF-Pakistan has ramped up its advocacy efforts by collaborating with government bodies and civil society to reduce plastic pollution through education, cleanup drives, and sustainable alternatives. The organization has trained more than 50 women in Karachi and Islamabad to convert hard-to-recycle multilayered plastics into useful products, generating income while reducing waste. In Karachi, WWF-Pakistan has mapped plastic leakage points along the coast and installed a litter boom at the fish harbour, retrieving over 2,500 tons of waste. Its Plastic Bank Initiative has also set up Plastic Recovery Banks in five major universities across the city, encouraging proper waste segregation and recycling through educational campaigns. The WWF-Pakistan is calling on citizens to reject plastic products and embrace eco-friendly alternatives, noting that systemic change is impossible without public participation. With the country facing increasingly severe climate events, the organization insists that eliminating plastics is not just an environmental issue — it is a national imperative. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
01-08-2025
- General
- Business Recorder
Sindh govt urged to declare new ‘marine protected areas'
KARACHI: The WWF-Pakistan has urged the Sindh government to declare new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the province's coast to safeguard fragile marine ecosystems and biodiversity, particularly in the ecologically important regions of Pitiani and Dabbo Creeks in the Indus Delta. The call came as part of the organization's statement ahead of World Marine Protected Areas Day, marked globally on August 1. Recognizing recent conservation progress, WWF-Pakistan lauded the government of Balochistan for its declaration of Miani Hor as the country's third MPA on July 29. The site joins Astola Island and Churna Island, declared MPAs in 2017 and 2024 respectively. These efforts, WWF-Pakistan noted, mark the beginning of a new chapter for marine conservation in Pakistan, achieved through sustained collaboration between government bodies, conservation groups, wildlife experts, and coastal communities. The establishment of MPAs is considered critical for meeting international biodiversity goals under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to which Pakistan is a signatory. The framework commits countries to protecting 30 percent of global oceans by 2030—a target known as '30 by 30.' WWF-Pakistan's Director General Hammad Naqi Khan emphasized that the country's coastal and marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure from overfishing, destructive fishing gear, untreated sewage, plastic pollution, and the broader effects of climate change. He stressed the need for both federal and Sindh governments to take decisive steps to declare additional MPAs and protect vulnerable marine areas. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Recorder
Toyota Pakistan leads mangrove plantation drive
KARACHI: In alignment with the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 and its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Indus Motor Company (IMC), in collaboration with WWF-Pakistan, conducted a mangrove plantation drive along the coastal belt of Karachi at the WWF Wetlands Centre. The initiative reflects IMC's ongoing dedication to environmental preservation, echoing its long-term focus on climate action, ecosystem restoration, and community engagement. The activity featured an interactive learning session by WWF experts, emphasizing the critical role mangroves play in coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation. IMC employees volunteered in planting saplings, contributing to the restoration of Pakistan's threatened mangrove forests. 'This collaboration exemplifies Toyota's global vision of creating a sustainable society in harmony with nature,' said Ali Asghar Jamali, CEO, Indus Motor Company. 'Through our environmental efforts and collective action under the GDN umbrella, we remain committed to driving positive change for future generations.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
