Pakistan seeks co-op with China in wastewater treatment

Kakakhel, former UN Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, visited China Beijing Environment Exchange (CBEEX), seeking cooperation in wastewater treatment, a common obstacle for both China and Pakistan’s sustainable development and environmental protection. [Jiao Kai /chinagate.cn]

Kakakhel, former UN Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, was accompanied on his visit to CBEEX by Shozab Abbas, Political Counselor at the Pakistan Embassy in China. Their trip aimed at seeking cooperation in wastewater treatment, a common obstacle for both China and Pakistan’s sustainable development and environmental protection.

Kakakhel was introduced to the Regional Hub of Global Wastewater Initiative (GW2I) in a South-South Cooperation, a brokerage service unveiled by UNEP to promote wastewater treatment cooperation between China and other developing countries. The program was serves as a platform to help countries in need of wastewater treatment products find reliable manufacturers.

“Pakistan welcomes Chinese wastewater treatment corporations to visit and observe current practices and challenges in Pakistan”, said Kakakhel.

Sustainable development has become a common challenge for developing countries who strive to balance economic growth with environmental protection, thus giving China and Pakistan similar grounds to stand together and tackle such problems through cooperation.

According to Kakakhel, China, on the one hand, is more experienced with advanced wastewater treatment technologies and regulations unemployed in other developing countries, giving Pakistan good reason to turn to Chinese experts for help.

Pakistan, on the other hand, has a great demand for wastewater treatment technology. “There is barely a city that does not lack water”, said Kakakhel. “Only 85% of water in urban areas is processed and used effectively, not to mention water usage in rural areas. Thus, the potential of cooperation between China and Pakistan is great.”

In terms of investment in environmental security posed by Chinese investors, counselor Abbas promised that the Pakistani government will ensure Chinese corporations and organizations a peaceful environment.

Kakakhel also discussed issues concerning household and agricultural wastewater disposal, urban and rural water charge, as well as drinking water purification with several Chinese wastewater treatment companies.