Water Crisis- A Crucial Problem of Pakistan
By Ayesha Nafees
Pakistan being developing country is still facing many problems since the time of independence, one of the critical problem is water crisis. Pakistan is an agriculture country and contributes approximately 21% to GDP, it uses canal system for irrigation but due to lack of water it is also suffering, keeping in mind that agriculture provides the most employment in rural areas. According to the recent report by International Monitory Fund(IMF) Pakistan is at third rank in facing water shortage in the world. Also the recent water availability per capita is 1000 cubic meters each year while in 2010 it was 1500 cubic meter. The United Nation has also warned South Asian countries of future water scarcity in their region. As per local newspapers Pakistan ranks fourth highest in per capita consumption of water around the world.
At the time of partition Pakistan was allotted three western rivers naming River Indus, Jhelum and Chenab running through Jammu & Kashmir while India was given the eastern rivers. Pakistan has only two water reservoirs Tarbela, built on Indus river and Mangla on Jhelum river almost which hold capacity to store water for only 30 days while water reservoirs of India can store water for 190 days. These water reservoirs are almost 40 years old. Now India is planning to build its hydroelectric plant on Indus river claiming that Pakistan isn’t able to utilize Indus river water. Due to lack of reservoirs almost 60% of water went unutilized in seawater. The ground water supply is also being rapidly used.
Pakistan has numerous natural resources but the problem arises when they are used excessively with no sustainability plans for resources so they can be used for longer period. It is predicted that with the fearsome situation of water scarcity it will arise conflicts to acquire water resources.
Another reason for water scarcity is the population growth and urbanization. People are moving from rural to urban areas which causes cities to become dense and with increase in population per capita water availability is decreasing. Due to increase in urbanization the climate of Pakistan is changing causing the monsoon season to shrink in past few years. The source of ground water is rain water and with current scenario of less rain and rapid use of ground water soon Pakistan will run out of ground supply of water.
Although we had sufficient water but lack of poor water management and lack of water crisis management Pakistan is now facing water crisis. Flood water can be saved and utilized but due to the shortage of dams it is wasted, Construction of water dams have been politicized from decades.
In regard of the causes discussed above of water scarcity, here are some steps should be taken in haste to prevail the nation from the upcoming direful indication of the dark days to come, May God Forbid! The government and the citizens both are responsible for this crucial situation, and the collective efforts of both can drag the country out of these crisis. The government has been instructed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to build the Diamer-Bhasha & Mohmand dams on the combat foundations moreover the bench also appealed to the nation for making contributions, whether in foreign or local currencies, directly to an account opened solely for this purpose.
Every Institution, Department whether affiliated with government or belonging to private sector, corporate or welfare, financial or educational, federal or provincial must assure to participate in this national cause financially or socially by spreading awareness among masses at every platform through fund raising seminars, educating and persuading them to contribute in the noble cause keeping all the discrimination and affiliation aside for a while and to act as a patriotic citizen in this harsh scenario. Realizing the situation, we the students of Jinnah University for Women Business Department took this initiative to conduct social awareness seminars and fundraising activities by reaching out to the students of other departments at our campus to appeal them to contribute their share, moreover we went to other educational institute to conduct awareness seminars among youngsters to educate them with The Water Saving Techniques, moreover we are running an awareness campaign on renowned social platform Facebook named as “Save today & Survive Tomorrow” to reach and to teach the masses.
Concluding the article, I would request my country fellow to realize their responsibilities towards the dearest homeland, and I would persuade my readers of this article to make a move for this purpose as it is the time our country needs us the most. Sab se Pehley Pakistan!
Pakistan Zibdabad. May Allah make Pakistan Prosper.Aameen