H.E Ms Henny de Vries ; “Water is Friend – Water is Enemy – We need Management”

Ambassador shares the experiences of Netherlands on how to manage the Water
Minister Sherry Rehman Appreciates Cooperation of Netherlands with Pakistan

Tazeen Akhtar

Ambassador of Netherlands H.E Ms Henny de Vries has pointed out water issues as major challenge for the world as it were in Netherlands and as they are in Pakistan. She said, “Water is Friend & Water is Enemy – We need to manage the water.”

The Ambassador shared this in her keynote address to the guests at a reception hosted by her and Mr. Wietze Lindeboom at Serena Hotels in connection to the National Day of Netherlands and 75 Years of Relationship with Pakistan. The Netherlands celebrated the 56th birthday of King Willem-Alexander. It was also celebrated in this event.

Chief Guest at the celebration was Federal Minister Climate Change Ms Sherry Rehman who appreciated the cooperation of Netherlands with Pakistan in all spheres including climate change, water management and GSP.

A highly well arranged reception at the spacious hall decorated with colors and flags of Netherlands was full of participants from different walks of life expressing the deep roots of bilateral connections and relations at people to people , business to business and gov to gov level.

Government and military officials , Ambassadors from around the world were also present. The host ambassador and the minister cut the cake together. National anthems of both countries were played. Delicious food including mouth watering dishes was also served to the guests.

Ambassador in her welcome speech emphasized the water management solidarity with Pakistan. She recalled the one thousand years’ history of facing the water issues by her nation. She mentioned that her country has managed the water of the sea by constructing dams. H.E Ms Henny de Vries also recalled the havoc the flood in Pakistan played last year. Netherlands was among first countries that shared the relief for the victims. Netherlands is 5th largest partner of Pakistan in the world in bilateral cooperation including climate change.

Minister Sherry Rehman expressed gratitude to the Ambassador who voluntarily reached to her soon after the flood destroyed one third part of Pakistan. H.E Henny de Vries called on the minister and offered all possible cooperation from Netherlands.

She said, ” The flood of last year was not Natural Disaster but Climate Disaster. We have not seen such destruction ever before. Sindh was the worst victim where it was presenting a view like ground zero.

Federal Minister was thankful to Netherlands for support on GSP, Flood Relief and Climate Change issues.

Sherry Rehman mentioned the challenges of deteriorating situation of tolerance in the world. She said we have to invest in the promotion of tolerance among the societies for one another. We have to respect the beliefs and creeds of others. She mentioned about the founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah quoting him as he said that Pakistan is a home of all religions. Everyone is free to go to one’s own worship place.