Daily Times

Last two days have brought moderate to heavy rain to most parts of the country.

Rain is associated with pleasant weather in urban centres, but its real economic outlook is celebrated or mourned, depending on the impact, by the farming community in rural areas.

The recent rain spell has come as a pleasant surprise for both urban and rural residents, especially to the wheat harvesting community. Every drop has proved to be a blessing for water-starved wheat farms. The spell, in the middle of the harvesting stage, is likely to bring a high output for a variety of crops. While nature has been kind to the farmers, the government and other stakeholders continue to fail them.

The rain spell stems from a strong westerly wave, which also caused much-awaited snowfall on the hills of northern Pakistan, attracting an influx of thousands of domestic tourists to hill stations. The other welcome development is the end to a long dry spell in Balochistan. Mountains in Quetta and Ziarat are again snow-capped, much to the delight of local residents, who expect the revival of winter tourism. The spell may last until the coming weekend.

The relentless pursuit of anti-environment industrialisation and urbanisation policies over the previous two centuries have led devastating climatic changes in the two decades. These changes have meant that we haven’t received a normal monsoon in the last three years. A shortfall in the monsoon means less water in rivers, especially in the Indus River. The worst affected regions from scarce rainfall are Balochistan and lower parts of Sindh. Indus delta has been under a disastrous situation, caving into the uncontrolled sea intrusion in coastal areas of the province. Water management experts and Sindhi nationalists often stress the need for adequate water share for the province to save Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Malir and Karachi districts from the onslaught of seawater, which is imminent in the absence of the implementation of the 1991 water accord. The parched riverbed of the Indus has deprived the coastal population of livelihood resources. Other than the Indus delta, parts of Balochistan have also suffered the most because of the short rainfall in the last three years. The mines-and-mineral-rich province has not been provided with sufficient water for human consumption, what to say of irrigation. The Supreme Court had to make a commission to investigate the shortage of clean drinking water in Balochistan’s Bhagnari area after media reports that highlighted the plight of people of the area.

Rains are not only about good crops, but they are also about water management. The long-term challenge is to make the most of the rainfall that Pakistan gets. After no visible action by successive governments on water conservation, (now retired) Chief Justice Saqib Nisar decided to take up the issue of dams. The former judge launched fund-raisers in Pakistan and abroad for dams’ construction. He was not the right person to do the job, and he did not know much about the scientific and socio-political issues of concern. However, he managed to raise the issue in the public domain. What is needed now is for the government to come up with sound policies to recharge and improve the groundwater level for human and animal consumptions and cropping. This must be done in consultation with academics and experts in the field.

There are reports that underground water of Lahore is depleting fast. Karachi is already facing chronic water shortage. Islamabad is seeing early signs. This matter should be pursued scientifically and in accordance with the wishes of the Pakistani people. *

Published in Daily Times, January 22^nd 2019.