Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has instructed all provincial governments for legislation to safe water and using it in a befitting manner.

The Ministry of Climate Change has issued a policy framework report in which it is stated if better water management is not adopted then a big crisis of water may take place in Pakistan. The report discussed the important issues like water reservoirs, scarcity of water and expansion of sea in coastal areas.

After the report came to the surface, the federal government asked the provinces to make small water reservoirs with their own sources at first priority and then take measures for the storage of additional water.

The report showed that at present the agriculture sector is utilising almost 93 per cent of water , whereas five per cent is utilised for domestic purposes and the industry makes use of two per cent of water. By the end of 2025, water utilisation In the domestic and industrial sectors would reach 15 per cent which would have an adverse impact on agriculture.

Pakistan is slipping down year by year from the state of self reliance in water sources and now she is moving towards acute paucity of water. In 1947 the water sources in Pakistan were 5000 cubic feet, which have been reduced to 1000 cubic feet currently and it might be possible that in 2025 it may diminish further to 800 cubic feet.

The federal government has also directed provincial governments to make such designs for water storage that would help to lessen the soil cutting and the layer of silt in dams.

The province should identify those places where small dams can be constructed. The survey of such points may be conducted

The government also asked the provinces to provide resources to restructure the canal system, which was damaged in the 2010 floods to make it more effective. In addition to the above steps should be taken to distribute the water to different cities by keeping in view the local climatic changes. To save the water table below the earth, peasants should be imparted training for the re-use of the wasted water for agriculture purpose.

In a letter written to provincial governments, the federal government has said that the flow of rivers and flood threats may also be kept in view while making the water policy .

“The provincial government should also create mass awareness by holding seminars, workshops as well as using the media on water management”, the directives said.