Water is foundation of life: PU VC

By Farzana Chaudhry — Lahore (Pakistan)

LAHORE: Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali has said that water forms the foundation of life and is essential for the survival of all living beings, including humans, animals and plants. He expressed these views while addressing a seminar titled “Impact of Water on Pakistan’s Economy”, organized by the Forum for Advocacy of Innovative Research (FAIR) at the PU Zoological Museum.

The event was attended by PILDAT’s Founding President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Pro-VC Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood, representatives from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, faculty members and a large number of students.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali highlighted that water is the most critical element for human survival and presented authentic data on the economic consequences of water scarcity against the backdrop of Pakistan’s rising population and changing climate. He commended the organizers for holding an important and timely event and reaffirmed that Punjab University will continue to support initiatives that address national issues.

Ahmed Bilal Mehboob underscored the seriousness of Pakistan’s water crisis and stressed the need for efficient water resource management. Other speakers — including Abdul Basit, Prof. Dr. Qais Aslam, Dr. Shabbir Ahmad Khan, Zain Iftikhar Chaudhry, Malik Manzoor-ul-Haq, Suleman Khan, Dr. Zainab Ahmad and Ms. Shaza Kaleem Usmani — discussed the status of Pakistan’s water reservoirs, potential benefits and the challenges of sustainable management.

Participants agreed that immediate and effective measures are needed to address water-related challenges, emphasizing that water is essential not only for life but also for economic stability, especially in agriculture and energy production.