Water crisis in Pakistan must be solved as soon as possible
KARACHI: Climate change is the biggest cause of the prevalent water crisis. Water is the most vital source of survival but unfortunately, Pakistan is ranked in the top ten countries which are facing water shortage. It is estimated that 21 million of the total population is deprived of clean water and numerous die due to drinking dirty water, especially in rural areas.
Among the urban population, the 20 million citizens of Karachi face a very bad kind of water shortage and many resort to using brackish groundwater. Access to safe, freshwater contributes to better health and helps avert the spread of contagious diseases.
Moreover, while many affluent households can afford to buy water tankers, this puts a strain on the finances of the average citizen. The search for safe water sources also causes citizens to divert their attention and time, which could better be used to pursue education or work.
Thus, the water crisis in Pakistan must be solved as soon as possible. Despite many protests by residents of Karachi, they continue to face water shortage. I hope this letter is able to draw the attention of the federal and provincial governments towards the issue and they can formulate policies and implement them to solve the crisis.
Atufa Waseem
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2019.
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