Daily Times

Sir: Eventually, a policy on water has been approved by the prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, taking into confidence all the chief ministers and senior officials.

Since 1947, Pakistan has been facing unprecedented water crisis due to lack of stern strategy concerning to distribution, utilisation and storage of water. Experts say South Asian country, Pakistan, is likely to dry up by 2025. With rapidly growing population, the demand for water has superficially increased.

Besides Indus Water Treaty 0f 1960, Pakistan has no proper facility of water supply to fulfill people’s demand. After the census of 2017, the population of Pakistan has stood around 207 million as compared to about 33.7 million and 42.8 million in 1951 and 1961, respectively; when Indus Water Treaty was sufficient to cover the population during 60s. Now, It has become statistically crystal clear that the water stress has immensely increased. The need for water is more than ever whilst still chiefly relying on the Indus water system.

Agriculture is the most water consuming sector. Despite having the largest canals system in the country, almost 40 percent of the countries fresh water is wasted by this sector alone. In fact the canals are mostly outdated and cracked. Perhaps one-time investment had been made during their construction and then, no concern was expressed in their overhauling.

Taking advantage of water crisis, tanker mafia is active in Karachi and to some extent in Hyderabad, in terms of selling water to citizens who casually receive water from WASA. Therefore, somehow tanker mafia, to a great deal, seems dominant on public offices be it elected or employed.

When finding no viable source to reach the demand, people use to dig out underground water for their needs, which includes potable water and other daily life usages. This act has pushed ground water to its deepest level, leaving the surfaces very dry like drought in such areas. And, most of the people are compelled to drink contaminated water hence are surrounded by water-borne diseases, all the time.

The national water policy, therefore, is a good step towards resolving problems caused by water shortage. The problems, predominantly, the dispute of water distribution between the provinces, have posed a sort of threat to Pakistan’s security and sovereignty. Now, at the national level policy of water, it can be hoped that the issues relating to water would be resolved in near future under the umbrella of this policy because it involves stakeholders, experts and institutions’ consensus, which is apparently a matter of great hope for Pakistani people.

TARIQUE ZAFAR

Dadu

Published in Daily Times, April 29^th 2018.