Book titled ‘Water in the Wilderness’ launched

Islamabad

National Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Khawar Mumtaz has said that there is a need to respect rights of nature like the rights of people. 

She was addressing a stakeholders dialogue on ‘Reimaging Nature for a Fair Future’ which coincided with the launching ceremony of a book titled ‘Water in the Wilderness’ written by Mehjabeen Abidi-Habib, Richard Garstand and Rina Saeed Khan. The ceremony was organised by the Henrich Bol Stiftung.

The NCSW chief said that fusion of technological advances and local wisdom can provide solution to problems in secluded areas like Cholistan, Makran Coast, Somiani and Deosai Plain but main stakeholders, local people, must be involved in decision-making. 

She said that the book should be taught in schools as it highlights human-nature relations and how fast these are being ruptured. 

She said that the book captures the spirit of nature. She lamented that multinational companies were given permission to work in many areas affecting lifestyle of people that is why they resisted. She said that beautiful national parks and good agriculture areas should not be encroached upon. These are not places for golf clubs, she said. She said that Pakistan did not contribute that much to global warming to face the brunt.

Mome Saleem from HBS, in her welcome address, explained the topic and HBS activities. She said that outcome of stake-holders dialogue in December last revealed that there is a nexus between land and energy. A policy change in anyone would affect the other two. She said that nature does not have right in Pakistan. She said that climate change is affecting water resources. She said the dialogue stressed awareness and advocacy, capacity building of activists, research on rights, costs and availability and exploration of indigenous alternate energy resources.

HBS Country Director Marion Regina Mueller said that a Global Memorandum was prepared after a two-year study by HBS suggesting relationship between nature and politics and adapting it to needs of Pakistan.