Expert highlights survival concerns for Pakistan as climate changes
Islamabad, 22 September 2012 (The International News) – Increasing threats due to negative impacts of climate change are the cause of major survival concerns for Pakistan, particularly in terms of its water security, food security, and energy security considerations. An official of Climate Change Ministry said the government has taken short- and long-term measures that would hopefully help avoid adverse impacts of climate change. Dr. Qamaruz Zaman, a lead author of National Climate Change Policy, highlighted various threats related to climate change and also proposed measures to cope with the emerging situation in the policy. It is pertinent to mention here that considerable increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events coupled with erratic monsoon rains has been causing frequent and intense floods and droughts in the country. It was stated in the policy that projected recession of Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayan (HKH) glaciers is threatening water inflows into Indus River System (IRS). Increased temperature has also resulted in enhanced heat- and water-stressed conditions, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, leading to reduced agriculture productivity.
