With climate change compounding complexities surrounding natural resources in the country, there is a need to build additional reservoirs while improving the conservational efficiency around critical resources such as water.
This was discussed by speakers during a round table discussion on “Water security challenges and conservation strategy for Pakistan”. The discussion had been jointly organised by the Centre for Global and Strategic Studies (CGSS) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation at the Islamabad Club.
CGSS President Major General (retired) Syed Khalid Jaffery opened the session by stating that water management is a significant issue from the defence point of view that needs to be addressed.
Dr Steffen Kudella, the Resident Representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation, stated that climate change is becoming a complex gamble to win.
Pakistan, Dr Kudella said, is one of the most significant countries of South Asia and that relying on a single river system will be risky.
Furthermore, he stated that for water needs to become a topic of regional dialogue, they plan to organise broader events to discuss this issue with a broader regional audience.
Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) Chairman Dr Muhammad Ashraf stated that Pakistan has abundant water but the problem lies with efficient absorption and retaining mechanism.
One major problem, he identified, is the development of water resources. “Currently, we are storing only 9-10% of the water, which must be enhanced to at least 40%, according to the international standards,” Ahmed said.
The second most important issue was water resource management since 60% of water is lost due to improper storage systems. Thereafter is the water governance aspect because it is largely provided free of cost and there is no incentive for saving water.
“We must emphasise the efficient utilization of water,” he said.
Ahmed Kamal, the chairman of the Federal Flood Commission, said that Pakistan has good sources of water but are not managing it to the optimal level.
Water scarcity is going to affect Pakistan by our follies, he warned, adding that the country has been severely impacted over the past five years by climate change.
He recommended that small water conservation strategies must be adopted in various parts of the country which will allow the retention of sufficient water.
Former Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) chairman Dr Yusuf Zaraf said that unfortunately, water has always been linked with power in the country. He added that towards the end of the previous government, it had been decided to set up a separate ministry for water issues.
On water utilisation, Dr Zaraf said agriculture consumes 95% of the water in the country and in recent years, the crops which consume more water have increased.
We have not opted for low delta water crops, he said.
Dr Hassan Abbas, the chairman of Forte - Integrated Water Resources Management, stated that to resolve problems, the cause must be identified. The issue of storage is important and must be highlighted.
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