ISLAMABAD: In move to address environmental challenges, Pakistan and Australia have agreed to collaborate on water conservation efforts.

Agreement was reached during meeting between Romina Khurshid Alam Coordinator for Climate Change and Neil Hawkins Australian High Commissioner.Both sides agreed to closely collaborate on water security and agriculture. Australian side would provide technical assistance to Pakistan for water security management, news release said.

She underscored water security is Pakistan’s most critical development challenge and sustainable management of water is indispensable for sustainable development. Keeping significance of water in view, she is working on GLOFIII project in Pakistan which will at one hand reduce risks of floods in northern areas while on the other hand provide huge reservoirs of water to be used by water scarce districts, she added. Neil Hawkins reiterating his resolve of close collaboration with Pakistan, stated that Australian government’s main focus in Pakistan was to work on climate change and gender. Australian High Commissioner presented coffee table book ‘Australian Journey-Our Country’ to PM’s aide. Both sides agreed on consistent engagements to further deepen their ties in climate initiatives..”