海角直播

海角直播鈥檚 water sector turns scarcity into opportunity

海角直播鈥檚 water sector turns scarcity into opportunity

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Green water refers to moisture held in soil and consumed by plants, while blue water describes water visible in lakes, rivers and aquifers. In 海角直播, both are scarce. Yet despite this extreme aridity, the Kingdom has emerged as a global leader in water governance.

The UN-Water body recently recognized 海角直播 as the SDG 6 Country Acceleration Case Study for its progress on integrated water resource management, represented by SDG 6.5.1. That recognition is supported by measurable progress.

Between 2020 and 2023, the Kingdom鈥檚 score on this indicator jumped from 57 percent to 83 percent 鈥 a remarkable leap achieved not by changes in climate, but by the strength of its management, governance and long-term planning.

These improvements are enshrined in Vision 2030, which sets water security at the core of sustainable development.

海角直播鈥檚 journey of water innovation dates back more than a century. The late King Abdulaziz ordered the construction of Red Sea water condensing machines in the early 20th century, a prescient recognition that science and technology would be essential for survival. 

Political commitment has remained constant; the Basic Law of Governance anchors the principle that resources must be developed for the benefit, security and prosperity of society, always within a sound scientific framework.

That principle now drives the National Water Strategy, which brings together 10 interlinked programs spanning policy, emergency planning, resource development, research and innovation.

The strategy has created a uniquely integrated and coordinated system, with clear institutional mandates and sustainable financial models.

This coherence has produced tangible results: Since the strategy鈥檚 launch, 海角直播 has nearly doubled drinking water production, doubled the capacity of its water conveyance and storage systems, and achieved clean water access for almost 100 percent of the population. At the same time, the reuse of water has nearly tripled.

Vision 2030 ensures that water will remain both a foundation of national resilience and an engine of future opportunity.

Arif Alkalali

Privatization is central to sustaining these gains. The Saudi Water Partnership Company now oversees investments worth SR47 billion ($12.5 billion) across the water supply chain, creating opportunities for innovation, efficiency and private-sector participation.

By driving down the cost of desalination and investing in clean energy, the sector has reduced its carbon footprint in line with the Kingdom鈥檚 pledge to achieve net zero by 2060.

Innovation underpins this transformation. 海角直播 is developing plans to reuse 90 percent of urban and industrial water, mining wastewater for precious metals, experimenting with lower-salinity seawater for agriculture, and deploying advanced groundwater metering.

Each of these steps reflects a broader ambition: To transform water scarcity into a platform for technological progress and economic opportunity.

Today, the Kingdom is the world鈥檚 largest producer of desalinated seawater, but its leadership goes beyond scale. It lies in the way policy, governance and innovation are combined to reframe challenges as opportunities.

In doing so, 海角直播 is not only quenching its blue-water thirst but also making its soils greener through extensive water reuse.

As the world increasingly recognizes water as a driver of security and economic growth, 海角直播鈥檚 example shows how political will, strategic planning and investment can turn one of the harshest environments on earth into a laboratory of global solutions.

Vision 2030 ensures that water will remain both a foundation of national resilience and an engine of future opportunity.

Arif Alkalali is a senior water consultant at the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture
 

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Australian former UFC fighter shot dead in Sydney

Australian former UFC fighter shot dead in Sydney
Updated 23 min 37 sec ago

Australian former UFC fighter shot dead in Sydney

Australian former UFC fighter shot dead in Sydney
  • Former UFC fighter Suman Mokhtarian was gunned down in a 鈥渂razen鈥 shooting while on an early evening walk in Sydney, police said, months after surviving an attempt on his life

SYDNEY: Former UFC fighter Suman Mokhtarian was gunned down in a 鈥渂razen鈥 shooting while on an early evening walk in Sydney, police said, months after surviving an attempt on his life.
The 33-year-old was shot dead in a 鈥渢argeted鈥 attack in Riverstone, a suburb in Sydney鈥檚 northwest, on Wednesday evening, New South Wales Police said.
A short time after the shooting two cars were found on fire in different locations, a hallmark of recent organized crime hits that have rattled the city.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very brazen and it鈥檚 a shame that this is happening in our community,鈥 NSW Police superintendent Jason Joyce said.
鈥淵ou鈥檇 want to think that in a residential area that people could wander the streets at that time of (early) night and be safe, but we do believe it鈥檚 a targeted attack,鈥 he said.
Local media reported that Mokhtarian had survived an attempt on his life last February, when a gunman fired on him outside a gym in Sydney鈥檚 west.
He fought twice in the UFC, in 2018 and 2019, losing both times, before moving into coaching, according to ESPN.
He helped develop some of Australia鈥檚 top mixed martial arts prospects, the website said.
A local who only identified himself by his first name, Ben, said he was walking with his wife when he heard a gunshot.
鈥淚t was around then when we heard a bang as well and a lot of smoke went up in the air... that would have been the car,鈥 he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
鈥淭here was a large commotion, a lot of people were just shocked because they鈥檝e never witnessed anything like this.鈥
鈥淭he shooting happened with children literally riding bikes around the park.鈥
Neighbour Natalie, who also did not provide her last name, said she was out the front of her home with her children when the incident took place.
鈥淚 called the police straight away,鈥 she told the national broadcaster ABC.
Natalie said she ran over to see if Mokhtarian was alive, but 鈥渉e clearly wasn鈥檛.鈥
鈥淚 could immediately tell he wasn鈥檛 alive, otherwise I would鈥檝e tried to help him,鈥 she said.
The killing came a day after police foiled a 鈥渒ill team鈥 bearing firearms, balaclavas, body-worn cameras and jerrycans on the way to a daycare center.
Police are investigating if the two incidents are linked.


Pakistani ex-senator detained by Israel in Gaza flotilla raid leaves Jordan for home

Pakistani ex-senator detained by Israel in Gaza flotilla raid leaves Jordan for home
Updated 30 min 24 sec ago

Pakistani ex-senator detained by Israel in Gaza flotilla raid leaves Jordan for home

Pakistani ex-senator detained by Israel in Gaza flotilla raid leaves Jordan for home
  • Islamabad earlier thanked Jordan for help as rights groups condemned Israeli seizure of Global Sumud Flotilla
  • The flotilla incident drew global condemnation, with rights groups calling for immediate release of detainees

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who was aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla seized by Israeli forces this month, has left Jordan for the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, the Pakistani embassy said on Thursday.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, an aid convoy carrying activists from several countries, was intercepted by Israeli naval forces on October 1 while sailing toward Gaza to deliver humanitarian assistance. The operation resulted in the detention of hundreds of participants, sparking protests in Pakistan and several countries.

The Pakistani ex-senator was among multiple Pakistani nationals on board the flotilla which departed from European ports carrying medical supplies and food for civilians in Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis has worsened amid months of Israeli bombardment and aid restrictions.

On Tuesday, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, said Khan had arrived at the Pakistani embassy in Amman, Jordan and was in 鈥済ood health and high spirits鈥, adding that he would return on October 9.

鈥淪enator Mushtaq Ahmad has safely departed for Pakistan,鈥 the Pakistani embassy said on X. 鈥淚n accordance with the instructions of the Honorable Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Embassy of Pakistan in Amman ensured all necessary arrangements were made for his safe and smooth departure.鈥

Islamabad earlier thanked Jordan for their 鈥渆xemplary cooperation and generous support鈥 in this regard. Pakistan had already coordinated the safe return of several citizens who disembarked earlier, expressing gratitude to 鈥渂rotherly countries鈥 for assistance.

The flotilla incident drew international condemnation, with rights groups calling for the immediate release of detainees and renewed access for humanitarian aid to Gaza. The fleet consisted of 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

It was the latest sea-borne attempt to break Israel鈥檚 blockade of Gaza, much of which has been turned into a wasteland by almost two years of war that has killed over 65,000 Palestinians.


Afghan Taliban foreign minister begins first India visit

Afghan Taliban foreign minister begins first India visit
Updated 50 min 53 sec ago

Afghan Taliban foreign minister begins first India visit

Afghan Taliban foreign minister begins first India visit
  • Neither side has disclosed the agenda, but analysts say trade and security are likely to be at the forefront, though India is unlikely, for now, to extend formal recognition to the Taliban government

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan鈥檚 UN-sanctioned foreign minister arrived in India on Thursday, the first visit by a top Taliban leader since they returned to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led forces.
Amir Khan Muttaqi鈥檚 trip 鈥 made possible after the UN Security Council granted him a travel waiver 鈥 is expected to be closely watched by India鈥檚 arch-rival Pakistan, as New Delhi deepens its engagement with the Taliban government.
鈥淲e look forward to engaging discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues,鈥 Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement, offering Muttaqi a 鈥渨arm welcome.鈥
Muttaqi, who met with India鈥檚 top career diplomat Vikram Misri in January in Dubai, is set to hold talks with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Neither side has disclosed the agenda, but analysts say trade and security are likely to be at the forefront 鈥 though India is unlikely, for now, to extend formal recognition to the Taliban government.
鈥淣ew Delhi is eager to establish its influence in Kabul... and not be left behind by its arch-rivals, China and Pakistan,鈥 International Crisis Group analyst Praveen Donthi told AFP.
Muttaqi鈥檚 visit follows meetings in Russia 鈥 the only country so far to have officially recognized the Taliban administration.
But while the Taliban are 鈥渟eeking diplomatic recognition and legitimacy,鈥 Donthi said, others noted that was some way off.
鈥淚ndia is not in a hurry to provide diplomatic recognition to the Taliban,鈥 Rakesh Sood, India鈥檚 former ambassador to Kabul, told AFP.
India has long hosted tens of thousands of Afghans, many who fled the country after the Taliban returned to power.
Afghanistan鈥檚 embassy in New Delhi shut in 2023, although consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad still operate limited services.
India says its mission in Kabul is limited to coordinating humanitarian aid.


IMF, Pakistan make 鈥榮ignificant progress鈥 on $8.4 billion loan reviews, lender says

IMF, Pakistan make 鈥榮ignificant progress鈥 on $8.4 billion loan reviews, lender says
Updated 09 October 2025

IMF, Pakistan make 鈥榮ignificant progress鈥 on $8.4 billion loan reviews, lender says

IMF, Pakistan make 鈥榮ignificant progress鈥 on $8.4 billion loan reviews, lender says
  • Discussions were held on fiscal consolidation to strengthen finances while providing required flood recovery support
  • Pakistan鈥檚 program implementation remained strong and broadly aligned with the authorities鈥 commitments, the IMF says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have made 鈥渟ignificant progress鈥 toward a staff-level agreement on reviews of the South Asian country鈥檚 $8.4 loans, the lender said late Wednesday.

The statement came at the end of a two-week visit by an IMF mission, led by Iva Petrova, to Karachi and Islamabad to review a $7 billion, 37-month Extended Fund Facility Islamabad secured last year, and a $1.4 billion, 28-month Resilience and Sustainability Facility secured in May.

Pakistan鈥檚 program implementation remained strong and broadly aligned with the authorities鈥 commitments, while progress was made in discussions on fiscal consolidation to strengthen public finances while providing needed flood recovery support, according to the lender.

鈥淪ignificant progress was made in the discussions in several areas, including sustaining fiscal consolidation to strengthen the public finances while providing needed flood recovery support,鈥 the IMF said in a statement.

鈥淧roductive discussions were also held on the authorities鈥 reform agenda to strengthen climate resilience, including the completion of reform measures under the RSF.鈥

The development comes weeks after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in New York and urged the global lender to take into account the recent flood damages in its upcoming review for the South Asian nation.

The floods, triggered by heavy monsoon rains and India鈥檚 release of excess water, have killed more than 1,037 people and affected another over 4 million, besides damaging standing crops, homes and road network. The government has initially estimated the losses at Rs370 billion ($1.31 billion), though a detailed assessment has yet to be made.

This week, the World Bank projected Pakistan鈥檚 economy to grow by 2.6 percent in the ongoing fiscal year that began in July, lowering its earlier estimate due to the recent monsoon floods.

The IMF said its officials will continue policy discussions with Pakistani authorities with a view to settling any outstanding issues.

鈥淭he IMF team wants to express its sympathy to those affected by the recent floods, and is grateful to the Pakistani authorities, private sector, and development partners for many fruitful discussions,鈥 it added.


Trump says he thinks Gaza hostages will be 鈥榗oming back鈥 Monday

Trump says he thinks Gaza hostages will be 鈥榗oming back鈥 Monday
Updated 09 October 2025

Trump says he thinks Gaza hostages will be 鈥榗oming back鈥 Monday

Trump says he thinks Gaza hostages will be 鈥榗oming back鈥 Monday
  • The Republican president spoke late Wednesday, hours after he announced the 20-point peace plan aimed at ending two years of a brutal war that left Gaza in ruins and unleashed a humanitarian disaster
  • Under the plan, Palestinian militant group Hamas would release all hostages while Israel would pull its troops back to an agreed upon line

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he believes all the hostages held in Gaza, including the bodies of those deceased, will be 鈥渃oming back鈥 Monday after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire.
鈥淪o much is happening to get the hostages freed, and we think they鈥檒l all be coming back on Monday, so it looks like that鈥檚 the thing, and that鈥檒l include the bodies of the dead,鈥 Trump said in a phone interview on Fox News.
The Republican president spoke late Wednesday, hours after he announced the 20-point peace plan aimed at ending two years of a brutal war that left Gaza in ruins and unleashed a humanitarian disaster.
Under the plan, Palestinian militant group Hamas would release all hostages while Israel would pull its troops back to an agreed-upon line, Trump said after talks in Egypt resulted in an agreement.
He was quick to suggest the deal could ripple through the region, to even include contributions from Israel鈥檚 and Washington鈥檚 longtime foe Iran.
鈥淭his is more than Gaza, this is peace in the Middle East,鈥 he told Fox, adding he believes 鈥淚ran is going to be actually a part of the whole peace situation.鈥
鈥淭he world has come together around this deal,鈥 he continued, saying it was 鈥済reat for Israel, so great for Muslims, for the Arab countries, and so great for this country.鈥
The American leader has long suggested the Palestinian enclave along the Mediterranean Sea could eventually be rebuilt into a flourishing hub if tensions in the region ease, and he hinted at those hopes again Wednesday, adding that the United States would be involved.
Gaza is 鈥済oing to be a place that reconstructs, and other countries in the area will help it reconstruct, because they have tremendous amounts of wealth, and they want to see that happen,鈥 he said.
鈥淎nd we鈥檒l be involved in helping them make it successful and helping it stay peaceful.鈥