KARACHI:
Statistics have revealed that the per capita water availability in Pakistan has declined from 5,080 cubic metres per annum in 1951 to 9,080 cubic metres today. Several natural factors, climate change for instance, have contributed to this. However, a closer look reveals that irresponsible use of available resources coupled with poor policy frameworks has majorly exacerbated the problem.
First, the burgeoning population growth has put a significant strain on the available resources, which has led to a drastic reduction in per capita water availability. According to the 1951 census, the country’s population was 75 million, including 42 million of former East Pakistan. However, today, the population is more than 220 million. These figures reveal the lack of focus on population management that has contributed to the depletion of available water reserves. Mismanagement of resource allocation has further added to the problem as an estimated 90% of the water is allocated to agriculture. Some water-intensive crops, such as rice, cotton, and sugarcane, consume thousands of litres of water against just one kilogram of output.
Most farmers opt for flood irrigation when only a fraction of water is required to cultivate some crops. Resultantly, more than 50% of water is wasted due to evaporation and absorption in the land before it reaches its actual destination. The relevant authorities must realise that Pakistan will soon be faced with acute water scarcity and must take steps to ensure conservation. We are already witnessing the consequences of water shortages in the form of provincial disputes and mass deaths of humans and animals in Cholistan. A widespread awareness campaign should be launched to inform people of the gravity of the issue and farmers should be informed about alternative and environmentally friendly agriculture practices.
Asad Aziz
Khushab
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2022.
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