‘Only conservation can minimise water crisis’

Speakers say construction of Kalabagh Dam is imperative

LAHORE: There is a need to devise policies to minimise water crises in the country. Water resources should not be wasted and Kalabagh Dam should be constructed to address the growing water needs.

This was said by speakers during a seminar on the looming water crisis in Pakistan, its impact and its solution, a press release issued on Wednesday stated.

The event was organised by Punjab University Institute of Agricultural Sciences (PUIAGS) and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI).



PUIAGS Director Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Haider, Agriculture Department Additional Planning Secretary Dr Ghazanfar Ali Khan and participants from different organisations and academia shared their views and experiences on water crises in the country.

The speakers urged preserving and utilising rainwater to meet needs in areas which were facing water shortages.

With the climate changing globally, speakers noted that access to fresh and potable water was on the decline. They warned that the situation could turn into a natural disaster in future unless policymakers did not swing into action on time and address the problem on a war footing.

On the occasion, Zamir Ahmad Somro, Dr Ghulam Nabi, Fareed Noon and Dr Bilal Chattha presented comprehensive reports about the importance and management options of water resources.

Later, a group discussion was arranged and the options for the construction of water reservoirs were discussed.

Meanwhile, a study by Punjab University’s PhD candidate highlighted the need of establishment of environmental quality standards of persistent organic pollutants and their regular monitoring in the region to avoid unforeseen threats to country’s agricultural export and public health.



Punjab University College of Earth and Environmental Sciences’ PhD candidate Mujtaba Baqar has completed his PhD degree in the subject of environmental sciences under the supervision of Prof Sajid Rashid Ahmad.

The topic of the research was “Assessment of Selected Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in River Ravi and its Northern Tributaries, Pakistan.”

The research study was a pioneer investigation to assess the persistent organic pollution levels in the tributaries of River Ravi which were principally affected by the ongoing use of banned pesticides in Rachna Doab area.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2018.