GILGIT: A primary consultative workshop was held here on Thursday to understand Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus approach in the context of river basin and transboundary landscape perspective.
The objectives of this workshop was to share the findings of the study conducted by WWF-Pakistan and ICIMOD that has come so far with all the relevant government departments and other key stakeholders in Gilgit-Baltistan to brainstorm on the synergies and trade-offs in WEFE nexus in the context of Gilgit Baltistan as part of upper Indus basin.
Speaking as the chief guest, Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, Deputy Speaker, Advocate Nazeer Ahmed said an integrated approach was required for better utilizing of natural resources.
He said that government officials should contribute for good governance along with their routine duties and added that unless responsible people were not committed to change the society, more complex implications could be witnessed in the future.
Head of Soni Jawari Center for Public Policy, Izhar Hunzai said that a forum was required of the same type organizations to gather data, consolidate better recommendations and shape better policies for Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said that Soni Jawari Center was opened for all stakeholders where all could share knowledge and assist government to formulate better policies.
Senior Ecologist, ICIMOD, Dr. Babar Khan discussed the concept of WEFE nexus followed by interactive discussion.
He highlighted the importance of the concept in connection with mountain regions.
Hasab Ullah Baig, consultant for WWF-Pakistan gave a thorough presentation on WEFE nexus based on the secondary data he gathered from 25 government and non-government organizations which will be compiled into a research study after having more consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Rehmat Ali Coordinator WWF-Pakistan said natural resources were becoming scarcer by the day as demand grows, whereas, the traditional sectoral approach to policy making, which involves developing and executing sectoral plans in isolation without accounting for trade-offs and negative impacts on other sectors, was becoming increasingly risky due to its spill over effects across policies
Coordinator HKPL, Ghulam Ali said that the workshop contributed to the qualitative analysis to triangulate the details acquired from other sources.
He said it was an opportunity to bring together the relevant sector related stakeholders particularly government line agencies, policy and decision making and academic institutions as well as other development organizations on a platform to analysis on WEFE nexus which was great contribution to the region.
Head of Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit ICIMOD, Fareed Ahmed said that ICIMOD would like to extend support to Soni Jawari Center for Public Policy.