KARACHI:
At the 6th International Earth Science Conference, among the many topics discussed, the water crisis in Pakistan, particularly in urban areas and Balochistan was the most pressing issue. Scientists brought their case studies and raised the scarcity issue. I was of the view that it was rather “water mismanagement.” I visited Balochistan and traversed through many areas from North to South-East. The general barrenness and signs of frequent flooding were evident across the province. How can we have destruction from floods during monsoon and water scarcity during the rest of the year? The answer is mismanagement.
Considering that there is no collective concern about future generations, little attention has been paid to water management and conservation. The glaciers that recharge Indus are retreating. I wonder how we plan on securing this resource for the next 50 years. Our irrigation system might be one of the largest in the world but is inefficient in our hot conditions. The groundwater reserves are under high stress and take a decade to replenish, but only a few tube wells to deplete.
As a nation, we are short-sighted and failed to strategise comprehensive plans. The academia and government are responsible for researching and investing in hydrology, hydrogeology, and water management. It is high time that we understand the gravity of the issue and devise strategies to counter the biggest threat to Pakistan’s existence, which is the absence of freshwater sources.
Musa Abubakr
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2022.
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