KARACHI:
Golf is a rich man’s game. To construct a golf course, you typically need 150 acres of land cleared of forests and then spend huge amounts to construct and help maintain the golf course. On average, a golf course will use 450 litres of water per day to maintain the grounds. This is why it is surprising information that Pakistan has around 150 golf courses. That is around 23,000 acres of land that was cleared and is being maintained at high costs while utilising 66,000 litres of water each day. For a country whose economy heavily relies on agriculture and one that is already facing water stress, it makes no sense for so many golf courses to be built in the first place.
The government therefore must help save our precious lands and water by enacting laws that prioritise water conservation and the restriction of new golf courses. The government should also help close down les populated golf courses to put an end to the wastage of precious water. Furthermore, golf courses should also be heavily taxed to encourage water conservation.
Shahryar Khan Baseer
Islamabad
