KARACHI:
One of the biggest problems faced by Pakistan is water scarcity and the country is expected to become the most water-stressed country in South Asia in the next two decades. Nearly 30 million people lack access to clean water. However, we have yet to see the government take this matter seriously.
Growing population, urbanisation, industrialisation, lack of storage capacity, climate change have all contributed to ineffective water management. Approximately 97% of the freshwater is used by the agricultural sector because it makes up 24% of the GDP. Poor agricultural choices, flood irrigation, the absence of hybrid seeding, and poor water management have put a heavy burden on water resources. Water management is faced with several issues such as the absence of a system to prevent evaporation and pilferage, and a lack of basin-wise water resource management. Also, 13% of the cultivable land in Pakistan is saline and 30% of the agricultural land is waterlogged. According to experts, water wastage is a big issue in Pakistan. Therefore, people must be informed of the risk of acute water shortage and the need to conserve.
Instead of blaming past governments and other external actors, the government must consider the issue in earnest and strategize policies to resolve the crisis. Water governance must be reassessed to improve management by gathering data. It will help reduce losses and improve sowing. Regular assessments should be undertaken on the inflow and outflow of water in all the provinces. The looming water crisis must be included in the wider public discourse otherwise we will be faced with grave challenges soon.
Muhammad Sufyan
Bhimber
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2022.
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