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Water scarcity is not a specified issue with Pakistan. It has become a worldwide
phenomenon. In the face of the 71 percent Earth's surface covered with water, and the oceans
holding about 96.5 percent of all Earth's water a line from ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’
comes to my mind, “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.” Water scarcity is being
faced by most of the countries of the world including the United States, India, Sub-Saharan Africa,
and even Bangladesh. The world is confronted with torrential rains accompanied by devastating
floods on one side and heat waves and droughts on the other.
This indicates that the main reason for the scarcity of water is the increase in population and
industrialization as the resources have not been augmented accordingly with the passage of time.
The present population of around 220 million could cross 395 million by the year 2047 our 100th
anniversary consequently putting enormous pressure on the demand for water. Whereas according
to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) we are throwing around 30 MAF water annually into
the Arabian Sea which could be saved by increasing the inland reservoir capacity. According to
one study, Pakistan at the moment is throwing worth $70 billion of water to the Sea every year.
This water not only goes waste to the sea but before that brings a lot of devastation in the form of
floods in the areas all along the rivers during the monsoon season.
As regards groundwater we nearly pump out 50 to 55 MAF of water daily while only 40 to
45 is recharged. It is the Shortage of surface water has put tremendous pressure on groundwater.
The drawdown phenomena have resulted in lowering of water table. As regards our withdrawal of
water by a source we draw 34% from groundwater and 66% from surface water. As regards
consumption of water by sector, 94% is consumed by irrigation and livestock, 5% by
Municipalities, and 1% by industries.
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Solutions:
The water strategy must be based upon the following two essential components:
• Water Development – Building of more reservoirs/dams on emergent grounds to increase
the water storage capacity, and conservation of the water by saving it from going into the Sea.
• Water Management – Conserving & saving the existing water by making its judicious use
1. Changing of crops Pattern that is instead of rice and sugar-cane crops consuming a large
quantity of water we should switch over to less water requirement crops like wheat, oilseed,
pulses, and cotton.
2. Cementing of watercourses, the lining of canals, and proper leveling of fields can save a
lot of water from being wasted in the agriculture sector.
3. Introduction of water saving technology like drip and sprinkling irrigation
4. People should be educated to conserve water
5. Pricing of water to check the undue use of water in the urban areas
6. Desalinization of Sea water
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