2
August 2006
WWF – Pakistan initiates
a consultative process to assist
Ministry of Environment
Lahore: WWF
has initiated a consultative process
for developing ‘National Surface
Water Classification Criteria and
Irrigation Water Quality Guidelines’.
A meeting was held in this regard
on August 2, 2006 at WWF –
Pakistan Head Office. The initiative
has been taken under Phase II of
Hudiara Drain Project. Representatives
from research and academia, Federal
EPA, Punjab EPD, Irrigation Department
(Directorate of Land Reclamation),
Federal Environmental Management
Unit (NDP), Provincial Irrigation
and Drainage Authority (PIDA), Agriculture
Department (Soil Fertility Cell)
participated in the meeting.
WWF plans to develop
‘Criteria’ and ‘Guidelines’
based on the thorough discussion
of all participants of this meeting.
These “Guidelines” once
developed will be shared with all
stakeholders in a National Workshop
that is planned for November 2006.
After incorporating the workshop
comments the final set of guidelines
will be presented to Ministry of
Environment for their approval.
Surface Water Classifications
are designations applied to surface
water bodies, such as streams, rivers
and lakes, which define the best
uses to be protected within these
waters (for example irrigation,
drinking water supply, fishing,
etc.). The designations are usually
devised by the state and/or federal
agencies to manage and protect all
surface waters.
WWF spokesperson
commented that “We hope the
adopted consultative approach would
result in realistic and implementable
Surface Water Classification Criteria
and Irrigation Water Quality Guidelines
which would be easily adoptable
by the Ministry of Environment”.
For further
information:
Amjad Aslam
WWF – Pakistan,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore.
Tel: +92 42 5862360, 5869429
Fax: 042 5862358
e-mail: aaslam@wwf.org.pk
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