The water-system: ‘Disaster is already here’
Experts stress the need to educate society to combat the water challenge.
Experts on Wednesday suggested that hydrological risk management be studied and taught to all stakeholders for better handling of the problem.
They were expressing their views during the closing session of a three-day International workshop on ‘Education for Managing Hydrological Extremes and Related Geo-Hazards’ conducted by the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Science and Technology. The event was held in collaborative sponsorship of Unesco and Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.
The experts also said that the government of Pakistan should take necessary steps to formalise establishment of a Unesco Category II Centre on managing hydrological extremes and related geo-hazards in collaboration with other countries.
“When it comes to the situation of water resources, the issue is not the possibility of a disaster; the disaster is already there. The issue is how we respond to this challenge and educate various levels of our society to combat it,” said Shahbaz Khan, Chief Water and Sustainable Development Section, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO.
Discussing the Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat (Swot) analysis, the key issues and messages were primarily framed for government of Pakistan and the international community, in particular for future strategic plans.
The subjects covered in this analysis included advanced tertiary level education and research, training middle-level managers and technicians, community education and capacity building through formal school education and informal community awareness programmes pertaining to the issue.
This analysis provided useful directions and recommendations for the relevant organisations in the region, the private sector and NGOs and for practitioners including academics, researchers, trainers, teachers and mass media professionals.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, was chief guest of the closing session of the workshop. Rector NUST Engineer Muhammad Asghar was also present on
the occasion.
The federal minister said that the issue seemed neglected not due to lack of importance but merely due to mix up of priorities and resources.
He noted that the significance of education on management of extreme events gained importance especially in the aftermath of recent devastating floods and the earthquake of 2005.
“There is no denying the fact that efficient management of hydrological or geographical elements at all tiers will not only save precious human lives but also minimise the financial losses and damages,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2011.
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