Cavalier attitude

It was in line with the cavalier attitude of our ministers, politicians and bureaucrats towards matters of national importance. The federal minster for water resources, the Wapda chairman and other senior officers of the ministry kept up the “great tradition” on Dec 17 when they absented themselves from the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, which was to deliberate significant issues related to water. The meeting was put off to Dec 20 without transacting any business. The panel rightly expressed its annoyance over the absence of the minister and officials, noting that the issue of water, which was a top priority, was being neglected by the government as it did not seriously take the meeting called to discuss the grave matter. The minister talks endlessly on TV on the issue but failed to turn up at the meeting where his input is needed, lamented Committee Chairman Senator Shamim Afridi.

This incident, however, has not come as a surprise to the average countryman. We have been witnessing such irresponsible behaviour of our rulers for long and seeing problems accumulating rather than being solved ask ourselves, “To whom shall I (we) complain?” And there is the usual stony silence to the persistence questioning by the common man.

Considering the gravity of the increasing water shortage in the country, it is unbecoming of government ministers and officials to take the issue in so nonchalant a manner. At independence, in Pakistan water availability was 5,000 cubic metres per person per annum which has now dwindled to 1,000 cubic metres. Our dams can store water for 30 days only. Pakistan is already a water-stressed country. According to estimates, the country will likely face an acute shortage of water by 2025. And by 2040, it is likely to go completely dry. It is a frightening scenario.

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

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