ISLAMABAD: National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Friday said Pakistan, like other countries, was facing climate challenges and tackling them required research-based policy input.

Water scarcity was intensifying due to climate change, Mr Ashraf said during a meeting with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Country Director Dr Niels Hegewisch at the Parliament House.

The speaker said Pakistan, being an agribased economy, needed a policy initiative to tackle challenges arising from acute water shortage.

Appreciating the support of FES for research-basedinput, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said such initiatives were necessary to tackle climate change-inducedissues.

He said Pakistan and Germany enjoyed cordial relations and welcomed the suggestion of FES for parliamentaryexchangesbetween both countries. He also stressed the need to sensitise public through diverse programmes and seminars.

The NA speaker said close liaison between public and parliament was crucial f or making parliament more effective Dr Hegewisch briefed the speaker about various publications of FES especially about charter of economy and said parliamentary exchange between Germany and Pakistan would enhance bilateral ties.