Uzair bin Farid

Pakistan and Netherlands face similar problems due to the impacts of climate change, and they can jointly address these problems through shared expertise, technology and experience, says a renowned expert. Dennis van Peppen, Lead International Waters Programmes at Netherlands Enterprise Agency, said while talking to WealthPK that Pakistan and Netherlands have been working jointly to address the problems of flooding and water disasters for many years.

He said that the 2022 floods ravaged a third of Pakistan, similar to the challenge of rising water levels faced by the Netherlands. Dennis said Pakistan needs to overhaul its water distribution system since it is outdated and cannot sustain water flow from the mountain ranges. He stressed the need to have an increased ability to store water since the growing population was increasing the per capita demand for water. “This is where the problem lies. The population of Pakistan is continuing to grow which consequently increases the demand for water. On the other hand, the supply of water is erratic, decreasing by the day and dependent on weather vagaries,” he pointed out.

Dennis said strenuous efforts are underway to resolve the problems of flooding in both urban and rural areas of Pakistan. “However, these efforts are insufficient. There are many gaps to be filled in policy, planning, implementation and execution. Moreover, there is an increasing need to democratise the process,” he emphasised. He said that when people are included in the decision-making process, it helps in the formulation of effective policies that over time prove to be flexible and can be edited for necessary alterations.

Dennis also highlighted the need for increased spending by the government in a more robust infrastructure development process. “During last year’s floods, a lot of critical infrastructure of communication, education, health, public services and homes was destroyed. That infrastructure will inevitably be rebuilt,” he said. “What matters is that the new infrastructure is erected keeping in mind the principles of ‘resilient infrastructure’ as explained by the United Nations and other developmental bodies,” he added. Moreover, he said, the government of the Netherlands will always be there for the people and the government of Pakistan. He said the Netherlands takes great pride and interest in bilateral relations with Pakistan.

“We will continue to support our Pakistani brethren with advocacy, international partnerships and financial incentives. What we want from Pakistan is to take the lead in identifying the problems and their solutions. Thereafter, as Pakistan moves further along the line of solutions, we will be able to provide the necessary support in the form of expertise, development capital, and financing,” he said. Dennis said it is important for the government of Pakistan to identify the gaps in policy and implementation so that the Netherlands can provide help, because in the end it is the people and government of Pakistan who are responsible for the resolution of their own problems.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk