Pakistan could face mass droughts by 2025 as water level nears 'absolute scarcity'

[Zarvan]

Pakistan could face drought in the near future, experts have warned in a fresh report Unicef


Pakistan could face drought in the near future according to experts in the country, who have warned the country will approach the “absolute scarcity” level of water by 2025.

The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) made the grim forecast in a new report which claimed the country touched the “water stress line” in 1990 before crossing the “water scarcity line” in 2005.

An unnamed government official in the south Asian country told Pakistani media that urgent research is needed to find a solution – but warned of a lack of available government funds.

Pakistan has the world’s fourth highest rate of water use but is dependent on water from a single source – the Indus River basin in India – and rainfall has been steadily declining, with some experts claiming this is down to climate change.

An estimated million people live in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi – but very few have running water after the land has gradually dried up, forcing many residents to queue for hours for supplies to be given to them.

Shamsul Mulk, former chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority in the country, said water policy is simply non-existent in Pakistan. Policymakers act like “absentee landlords” over water, he added.

“Because of this absentee landlordism, water has become the property of the landlords and the poor are deprived of their share."


A quarter of rivers at risk as water is removed despite drought risk
Experts say that population growth and urbanisation are the main reasons behind the crisis. Some say the issue has been exacerbated by climate change and poor water management.

Energy sector expert Irfan Choudhry said the authorities appear to lack the political will to tackle the problem.

“There are no proper water storage facilities in the country. Pakistan hasn't built new dams since the 1960s. What we see is political bickering over the issue. The authorities need to act now. We can store water for only 30 days, and it is worrisome,” Mr Choudhry told local media.

Some politicians have warned of “massive corruption” in the water sector with some seeking to profiteer from the scarcity of a vital resource.

Others blame India for the Pakistani water crisis and claim that New Delhi is failing to uphold the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty brokered by the World Bank in 1960 which regulates control of the rivers between the two nations.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...ater-levels-a7949226.html?cmpid=facebook-post

 

[defence_analyst]

Not if we build dams and stop wasting underground water unnecessarily. Even 50% of river water is wasted by the time it reach lands to irrigate. Good amount go to sea. Lot can be done on emergency basis if drought like situation hit the fan. But don't expect anything before it.

I'm not too worried because this is essentially management problem and not Pakistan running out of water and becoming arabian desert. Indus will not suddenly stop flowing even 100 years from now.

 

[somebozo]

Our agriculture is way too inefficient wasting huge amount of water and we need to get away from reliance on agriculture input based economy

 

[Azaadi]

Pakistan has no such situation or chances in near future that face any sort of water drought... however, due to our poor efficiency can lead us to drought...........

 

[Clutch]

Self inflicted drought... pakistan need better water management through conservation and stringent regulations.

Build dams and stop runoff wastage...

Pakistanis usually don't act till the 11th hour... it's in our nature to procrastinate

 

[Xracer]

Even If Droughts Hits Pakistan 100 Years From Now On We Should Start Acting Now Because PAKISTAN Depends Alot On Water.......One This Thing That Punch's Me In The Face Is That We Are A Nuclear Tech Country & We Haven't Been Able To Build A Single Dam With Good Storage From Past 40 Years = Bad Management & Policies..........