Govt forms task force on water scarcity
The federal government has set up a high-level task force to address worsening water scarcity and its impact on the Rabi and Kharif crops.
The body, co-chaired by Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik and Federal Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, held its first meeting in Islamabad on Thursday to outline urgent measures.
The task-force discussed strategies, including rainwater harvesting, reducing water wastage, and pilot programs for drought-hit farmers. International donor engagement was also highlighted as vital for long-term solutions.
"Our core objective is to develop practical, forward-looking measures to counter both current and future water shortages," said Dr Malik.
He stressed the need to monitor domestic and cross-border water flows, warning that regional uncertainties could disrupt supplies.
Ministers reviewed agricultural and household water demand, causes of recurring shortages, and annual availability fluctuations. The task-force was instructed to analyze 40 years of hydrological data to identify trends and guide policy.
"Understanding historical patterns is essential to mitigate risks," noted Malik, emphasizing preparedness for potential cross-border flow disruptions. Water scarcity poses a severe threat to Pakistan's food security and economy, with agriculture accounting for 90% of freshwater use. The task-force's findings could shape national water conservation and climate adaptation strategies.
Water inflow and outflow
The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) on Thursday issued a statement with regard to the situation of water in rivers and reservoirs.
According to the update, the inflow of water in the Indus River at Tarbela was 97,900 cusecs, and the outflow remained 82,000 cusecs on Thursday.
At Mangla, the inflow of water in the Jhelum River was 40,000 cusecs, and the outflow was 28,000 cusecs. At Chashma Barrage, the inflow was recorded at 126,800 cusecs, and the outflow 114,000.
At Head Marala, the inflow of water in the Chenab River was 22,900 cusecs, and the outflow was 3,500 cusecs while at Nowshera, the inflow and outflow in the Kabul River remained both 36,800 cusecs
The Wapda spokesperson said the water level in Tarbela Reservoir on Thursday was 1,464.45 feet with a storage of 1.587 million acre-feet (MAF)
The water level in Mangla Reservoir was 1,145.45 feet with a storage of 1.534 MAF; the water level in Chashma Reservoir was 648.30 feet with a storage of 0.274 MAF while the total usable water storage in Tarbela, Mangla, and Chashma reservoirs remained 3.395 MAF.
The statement said the inflow and outflow figures for the Indus River at Tarbela and Chashma, the Kabul River at Nowshera, and the Jhelum River at Mangla were based on 24-hour average flows. "For Head Marala and other locations, the data reflects the situation as of 6:00 am today," the spokesperson said.