Water crisis has become a nightmare with foreboding crippling droughts. The issue of water scarcity has turned into a global crisis. As a matter of fact, population and economies are on the incremental trajectory, demanding more water but supply of water is imperiled by climate change, water waste and pollution.
Pakistan is water stressed and the third most affected country due to acute water shortage. This dire situation is really troublesome. It is really alarming that half of the world’s population is facing huge water scarcity. The water resource group reiterated that “the gap between water demand and supply will be 40% by 2030 in the world”. Only 36 percent of population has access to safe drinking water. Given the importance of water and growing shortage of water, The United Nation adopted a resolution to celebrate March 22 as World Water Day to lay emphasis on the significance of water and its usage. The theme of 2025 has been set as “Glacier Preservation”, as melt water is a pivotal source of fresh water. The awareness about the significance of freshwater is awfully essential to avert the burgeoning Global Water Crisis and ensuring comprehensive water management system. “Safe water is a basic human right”, said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Chief for South Asia.
Water scarcity is a horrible menace for the world and it requires concerted efforts to overcome these issues through adaptation of water preservation policies
Water scarcity is a horrible menace for the world and it requires concerted efforts to overcome these issues through adaptation of water preservation policies. Water scarcity refers to shortage of water resources to meet the needs of the population and environment. Furthermore, water crisis means that the available fresh water within a region is less than that region’s demand for a living system. There are multiple causes of perpetual water shortage problems. The most important are increasing Global warming resulting into climate change, abject poverty, conflicts and disputes among states, rickety infrastructure, population explosion, lower-than-usual annual rainfall, rapid urbanization, resource intensive economic development, contamination of local water supplies, water pollution, over-usage of ground water, Poor, lackadaisical and unsustainable water management practices, deforestation, Hydro-hegemony of certain states, trans-boundary water disputes, iniquitous water distribution, natural disasters including droughts and floods. Moreover, its sole dependence is on Indus river system as it accounts for 95.8 percent of total renewable water resources of Pakistan. The pressing fact of profound concern is that three -fourth (78%) of water resources in Pakistan is being accessed from outside the country.
The affects of water scarcity are drastic; ranging from Government regulations on water usage, increased water costs to increased food costs
The affects of water scarcity are drastic; ranging from Government regulations on water usage, increased water costs to increased food costs. Further, there are myriad of challenges that profligate usage of water. Pakistan is an agrarian country, thus relying on water for better harvest. It is estimated that Pakistan’s per capita annual water availability will fall to 274 million acre feet (MAF) by the end of 2025 while the resources remain the same at 191 million acre feet (MAF). Moreover, as per statistics of IMF, Pakistan has become the 3rd most affected country in terms of water depletion resources. The continuing alarming water scarcity might have drastic results in terms of geo-political, geo-economic and ecological affects. The encouraging factor is that Pakistan has a long range of glaciers which feeds the river system in Pakistan. According to Indus River System Authority, Pakistan has the capacity of only 30 days of water storage.
The main water source of Pakistan is the Indus River Basin. It is really alarming that annual water availability has fallen down less than 1000 cubic meters per person.
Pakistan is not immune to this havoc of water crisis. Worryingly, the country has transitioned into water stressed from water scarce status. The main water source of Pakistan is the Indus River Basin. It is really alarming that annual water availability has fallen down less than 1000 Cubic Meters per person. The disturbing fact is that it is less than the prescribed threshold. In the same vein, we evaluate that water is essential for food production. Agriculture depends upon on the water resources and droughts wreak havoc on the production of crops and grains. Experts have expressed their concern that till 2040; availability of water will be reduced by approximately 500 cubic meters per capita per annum in Pakistan. When we define apportion of water availability on the face of Earth, we find that Oceans constitute 97% and 03% is fresh water. Furthermore out of three per cents, 70% consists of frozen water available in Ice Caps and Glaciers and 29% is Groundwater (utilized through pumping) and remaining 0.1 percent is accessible fresh water. This 0.1percent of accessible fresh water includes 0.1% rivers, 53% lakes, 38% soil moisture, 0.1 % water vapor and 0.1% of surface water.
There are different sources of water including natural sources of water which are ponds, rain, streams, Sea, Lake, River and man- made source of water which contain reservoir, canal, tube well, hand pump, tap and wells. Water withdrawal characterizes fresh water taken from ground or surface water source used on temporary basis or permanent impacts a lot in the phenomenon of water scarcity predicaments. The repercussions of water scarcity lead to ecosystem disruption, biodiversity loss and climate change. There is a dire need to review the environmental consequences to set right this terrible situation.
It is essential to build the Diamer–Bhasha dam. This large scale dam project will definitely help in preserving the flood water.
Water pollution costs Pakistan an estimated 3.9% of its GDP annually, leading to health related problems and economic loss. Moreover, social and economic impacts including Human health hazards, economic strain and rampant social inequalities are the outcome of haphazard water policy. Water pollutants are the potential snags in developing better ecosystems. It is essential to build the Diamer–Bhasha dam. This large scale dam project will definitely help in preserving the flood water.
Also, there is a dire need to adopt smart irrigation methods to save water and discourage the usage of groundwater especially through tube wells. In Pakistan, the Tarbela and Mangla dams are the only dams to save the rain and floodwater. Already, United Nation Development programme (UNDP) and Pakistan Council of Research in water resources (PCRWR) warned about absolute water depletion, frequent floods and droughts if essential remedial measures are not taken to save the water from depletion.
The outstanding disputes of Kishanganga and Baglihar Dam should be sorted
In order to overcome the water crisis, national consensus, unfaltering political will, outstanding disputes of Kishanganga and Baglihar Dam should be sorted. Nevertheless, the building of new dams cannot be ignored. Given the alarming water crisis situation, procrastination would prove to act as a death-knell. There is a dire need to set right the internal maladministration practices. For that purpose, sustainable water management is a perennial process, taking into account the ecological, economic and social functions through the whole river basin.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
