Water shortage: a challenge for future

MoCC minister increased awareness about conservation

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Monday said the water scarcity issue would become a severe challenge for the country to deal with, in the future. Therefore, responsible and rational practices need to be adopted among the masses for the conservation and usage of underground water table.

Speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day national consultative workshop on 'Transforming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into Action', the launch of national target for SDG 6 (6.1 and 6.2) here, the minister said it was time to practically secure the country and its natural resources as the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) was taking serious initiatives for the development of the environmental sector and preservation of natural resources in the country.

She said there was no mechanism for the regulation of an underground water table in the country due to which the water table was rapidly depleting. "In order to overcome the issue, a Water Table Regulatory Authority (WATRA) is being established as there is unrestrained use of water as people lack awareness and knowledge over the utilisation of water," she added.

"Water shortage causes grave issues as the drought situation prevailing in Sindh and Balochistan and its outcome is a precedent before us," she said. Zartaj Gul said, "We need to regulate water usage and also adopt cleanliness along with clean water consumption.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2018.