RAWALPINDI: Participants of an awareness walk in Rawalpindi on World Water Day called for greater efforts to conserve water by protecting glaciers amid global warming.

The special awareness walk was organised by the Water and SanitationAgency (Wasa) Rawalpindi.

The event saw the participation of Wasa Managing Director Salim Ashraf, department officials, and scores of conservationists and members of the public.

Participants carried banners highlighting the significance of water conservation and distributed pamphlets among the public.

Speaking at the event, WasaManaging Director Salim Ashraf stressed the urgency of addressing climate challenges through collective efforts.

He said that this year`s theme for World Water Day was`Glacier Preservation`.

Mr Ashraf noted that the entire planet was facing water shortage problems exacerbated by climate change.

`Efforts need to be intensified to address the challenge,` he said while underscoring that afforestation was a key tool in combating environmental changes.

`It is the need of the hour to make every citizen aware of the importance of water conservation. In the years to come, there will be wars over water distribution. This warrants urgent atten-tion and we must avoid wastage of water,` he said.

Mr Ashraf said Wasa was trying to provide clean drinking water to the residents of Rawalpindi.

`Work on mega water supply projects is underway to address Rawalpindi`s water shortage issue. Apart from the Chahan Dam water supply project, an additional five million gallons of water per day from Rawal Dam and uninterrupted supply of water to six union councils of Khyaban-i-Sir Syed is on the cards,` he said.The Wasa MD said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was providing funds for the water projects. He added that rain harvesting systems were being installed on 30 different buildings in the city with the support of the Un-Habitat. Under the project, rainwater will be collected from the rooftops and stored in underground tanks to use for horticulture.

`In the current situation where Wasa is making every possible effort to deliver clean drinking water to the citizens, it is also the responsibility of the citizens to use water carefully.` Mr Ashraf said that in order to save and prevent the wastage of water, Wasa has improved the mechanism of water distribution and is taking measures to eliminate leakages.