Water crisis: ‘Media simply cannot ignore gravity of the situation’

Karachi
The United Nation Development Programme hosted the “Educate a Girl Climate Summit” in collaboration with the LadiesFund at the Arts Council of Pakistan on Saturday.
The training educated an audience of 350 students and media professionals including “Educate a Girl” scholarship winners.
Leading Australian journalist, Sara Phillips, of the ABC Australia flew in from Melbourne to conduct the training. Other keynote speakers included Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson, Senator Khushbakht Shujaat, fashion designer Deepak Perwani and actor Hamza Ali Abbasi.
Phillips focused on the basics of journalism, news writing and science writing in the first session of the event.
In the second session, Senator Shujaat gave a detailed presentation on the emerging water crisis present worldwide and in Pakistan.
She also spoke on the significance of news reports on water woes. “Given the present circumstances, it is an important area to report on, it can’t be ignored… it is an elephant in the room,” the senator said.
“Around 44 percent of Pakistanis have no access to clean drinking water and we have failed to provide them with their due share.”
Tara Uzair Dawood, UNDP consultant and founder of the Educate a Girl said, “We are delighted that Sara undertook this long journey to support this important initiative.”
Perwani highlighted the importance of female literacy. He said without support of the literate half of the population, a positive change in the contemporary society could not be expected.
Abbasi spoke on the correlation of nation-building and women’s education.
He stressed the need for collective efforts of the society in this connection and the state’s making it a priority to educate women.
Philips thanked the organisers for inviting her to
the event. “I am happy to be able to come to Pakistan to support the training of deserving girls in journalism,” she said.