An international consultative workshop on the impact of climate change on the Indus Basin and its implications started in Nepal today with participation from 13 countries including India.
The three-day workshop, organised at the initiative of Integrated Centre for International Mountain Development (ICIMOD), aims to frame programmes and policies for sustainable water resources management in the Indus basin, said Madhav Karki, Deputy Director general of ICIMOD.
He said that the ICIMOD is monitoring the status of snow, ice, water and natural resources of the Indus River Basin.
ICIMOD is implementing River Basin Management programme in Koshi river for the purpose of scientific study of the impacts involving Pakistan and China, according to ICIMOD.
“We will also involve India gradually in the studies,” said Karki.
More than 50 experts, scientists, government officials and policy makers from 13 countries including India, Nepal, Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, UK, USA and Switzerland are taking part in the workshop.
The workshop aims to promote international collaboration among researchers, scientists, planners and policy makers in reducing the impact of climate change on the environment of the Hindu Kush region.
On the occasion speaker scientist Matthias Winiger highlighted the climate and environment change impacts in the Indus basin.
He said that Pakistan shares 52.6 per cent of the Indus River Basin while India and China shares 33.5 per cent and 7.6 per cent of the basis respectively.
Afghanistan has 1 per cent share while Nepal has negligible 0.01 per cent share.
