Water security: Pakistan’s water woes highlighted on World Water Day

Mismanagement and infrastructure responsible for most water losses.

ISLAMABAD: Despite having largest irrigation system in the world, Pakistan loses about two third of its water resources due to poor state of infrastructure, said climate and agriculture experts here at a seminar marking World Water Day 2013.

An International Seminar on World Water Day 2013 was organised on Friday by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (Parc) with the purpose of raising awareness about water management challenges.

This year the theme for World Water Day 2013 was “International Year of Water Cooperation”. Federal Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) Ahmed Buksh while addressing the seminar said “About two thirds of our water resources are lost in transmission and seepage. This means that about 68 million acre feet of water can be brought in use if the canal system is adequately repaired and maintained”. Buksh stressed on the need for addressing the issue of water resource management at local, national, regional as well as international levels.

Parc organised the seminar in collaboration with International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Planning Commission of Pakistan (PCP), Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP) and other national and international organisations. Speaking on the occasion, former chairman Parc and ICIMOD Board Member, Dr Amir Muhammad said that agriculture sector has great potential to boost country’s economic growth and productivity. He said that owing to increasing population, the use of land is increasing and water resources are decreasing, so there is a need to develop a roadmap for future planning.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2013.

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