In the coming Kharif season, beginning on April 1, the country is heading towards a ‘massive water shortage’. Somewhere between 27 per cent and 35 per cent. Only months after unprecedented floods submerged large swathes of lands across Sindh and southern Punjab, Irsa sources told Dawn.
Pakistan is facing a severe water crisis that is putting million lives at risk. It is a cause for great concern and requires immediate attention.
Pakistan’s water resources are under severe stress due to a combination of factors, including rapid population growth, climate change, mismanagement of water resources, and inefficient irrigation practices. The following are
Some key points regarding the water crisis in Pakistan today:
- According to a report by the United Nations, Pakistan is among the top 10 countries in the world that are facing water scarcity. The country has only 1,000 cubic meters of water available per person,. Which is well below the minimum requirement of 1,700 cubic meters per person.
- The major sources of water in Pakistan are the Indus River and its tributaries, but these are being depleted at an alarming rate. The annual flow of the Indus River has decreased from 210 billion cubic meters in the 1950s to 140 billion cubic meters today.
- The impact of climate change is exacerbating the water crisis in Pakistan. The country is facing more frequent and intense droughts, floods, and extreme weather events, which are affecting water availability and quality.
- The mismanagement of water resources is also contributing to the crisis. Inefficient irrigation practices, such as flood irrigation and waterlogging, are wasting large amounts of water. Moreover, illegal water pumping and the unauthorized construction of dams and canals are exacerbating the problem.
- The water crisis is having a severe impact on Pakistan’s economy, agriculture, and public health. The country’s agriculture sector, which is the mainstay of its economy, is heavily reliant on irrigation, and the shortage of water is affecting crop yields. The lack of safe drinking water is also leading to the spread of water-borne diseases.
Informed sources said that two major stakeholders — Sindh and Punjab — were poles apart on water conveyance losses. The quantum of available water that remains unaccounted for and lost to theft, leakage, evaporation or absorbed by soil or canals and could not reach farm lands.
To address the water crisis in Pakistan:
In view of the higher shortage, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) would be compelled to follow a controversial three-tier water management mechanism. For the distribution of shares to provinces and lead to rifts among the key coalition partners — PML-N in Punjab and PPP in Sindh.
The government also needs to take urgent action to conserve water resources. Such as improve water governance, promote efficient irrigation practices, and invest in water infrastructure. The adoption of modern technologies, such as drip irrigation and precision farming, can also help to improve water efficiency in agriculture.
Author: Maria Sarfraz (@mariaa.sarfraz)
