Worrying water scarcity in Pakistan

Water scarcity could be an upcoming nightmare for the citizens of Pakistanis who are already suffering from load shedding of electricity and gas. Pakistan Today has learnt that drinking water, which was 5600 cubic meter per capita in 1950s, is now less than 1000 cubic meter per capita and is decreasing with every passing day.

An officials at Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources said, “Currently we are facing both quantity and quality problems. Water available per capita is very low and we do not have enough storage reservoirs”.

“But PCRWR is basically a research organisation. We, in our studies and research, have raised issues and have found out the way to tackle it. Up untill now we have done a lot but putting these tools into practice is the responsibility of provincial government,” he added.

He said large and small scale dams, including Kala Bagh dam, must be constructed to meet the water and energy requirements of the country.

“Even if it is not our subject but lack of dams is the back bone of country’s growing water problems,” he added.

In addition, he recommended a legislation regarding usage of ground water.

“Everyone is using drill and bores to use ground water without any hesitation. This practice causes lowering of water level. In 1960s, Islamabad’s water was at a depth of 50 to 60 feet, today it is around 250 to 300 feet deep. If proper legislation is put into practice unnecessary drilling can be prevented,” he said.

PCRWR Labour and Communication Director Engineer Rashid Aftab said, “There is a need of a large scale awareness campaign concerning importance of water for human beings and other livings. Our people are careless and sloppy when they deal with water. Approximately, every person uses 60 to 70 percent more water than its requirement. If this water is utilised carefully, the remaining results would be improved”.

Talking about PCRWR’s efforts, Rashid Aftab said tablets had been produced to cleanse the water to make it healthy.

“The Mehfooz Pani Tablet is available for Rs. 25. We have also finished work on various filters for filtering the water before it is used,” he added.

According to the Pakistan Metrological Department’s data, Pakistan received 72 percent monsoon rainfall whereas Sindh acquired 250 percent extra.

This year, it was predicted that monsoon will be greater than the ususal.

“We have no suitable arrangement to utilise this rain water. Why is the government not focusing on this issue which is of utmost significance,” Sana Mumtaz, a student of Environmental Sciences said.

She further said that Pakistan’s hydro resources were proficient to generate more than 40,000 megawatt of electricity, whereas we are producing only 6,000 megawatts of electricity.