ISLAMABAD, Feb 01: President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed the nation’s pledge to conserve and sustainably manage wetlands, calling on all citizens—especially the youth, local communities, and policymakers—to treat wetlands as valuable cultural and ecological assets.
The president emphasized that World Wetlands Day, celebrated on February 2, commemorates the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971, to which Pakistan is a signatory. This agreement advocates for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands for both present and future generations.
This year’s World Wetlands Day theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” serves as a reminder that wetlands are not just ecological systems but also cultural landscapes shaped by centuries of local community practices. In Pakistan, traditional knowledge related to wetlands supports livelihoods, food security, biodiversity, and a harmonious relationship with nature, according to a statement from the President’s Secretariat Media Wing.
The president also highlighted the crucial role of water security, emphasizing the importance of responsible transboundary cooperation. He expressed concern over India’s unilateral actions affecting the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, a pivotal agreement for equitable water sharing in the Indus Basin. He asserted that water should never be weaponized against Pakistan, as disruptions to river flows threaten millions of lives dependent on the Indus Basin.
Healthy wetlands help mitigate floods, protect coastlines, sustain livelihoods, and reduce emissions, President Zardari noted. Neglecting these ecosystems exacerbates climate change impacts, while restoration offers significant ecological and economic benefits. Pakistan, though minimally responsible for climate change, is highly vulnerable to its effects, he said, identifying wetlands as key defenders against floods, droughts, and sea-level rise.
The president underscored the diversity of Pakistan’s wetlands—including riverine floodplains, alpine and glacial lakes, and coastal mangrove ecosystems—which play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, water regulation, and disaster risk reduction. He warned of the mounting pressures on these wetlands from erratic monsoons, glacial melt variability, heatwaves, and pollution.
Particularly in Sindh, the degradation of wetlands has led to historical water stress and sea-level rise, affecting the Indus Delta and once-rich mangrove forests now threatened by salinity intrusion and coastal erosion. Inland wetlands, such as Keenjhar, Haleji, and Manchar, are facing reduced freshwater inflows, prolonged droughts, and pollution, affecting fisheries, water quality, and migratory bird routes.
For millions of Pakistanis, wetlands provide essential resources like fish, grazing grounds, reeds for shelter, and protection during heavy rains or water scarcity. When these ecosystems degrade, families face income losses, increased food costs, unsafe water, and heightened flood and drought risks. Thus, protecting wetlands is an environmental duty and crucial for public welfare and national resilience.
The president noted that wetlands offer cost-effective solutions to climate challenges by absorbing floods, storing carbon, and reducing the need for costly disaster recovery. He advocated for integrating indigenous knowledge into sustainable wetland management, aligning with Pakistan’s climate and biodiversity goals and international commitments. He concluded by emphasizing that protecting wetlands is as much about safeguarding people’s livelihoods and national resilience as it is about protecting nature.
