Water scarcity and Pakistan Outline:Introduction Water-Scarcity a global phenomenon Pakistan Proneness to water-scarcity and its reasons: Mismanagement

of available water-resources Deforestation Climate change and Global warming Population explosion

Implications of water scarcity on Pakistan - Socio-economic problems o Health o Poverty o Draught o Agriculture o industry - Provincial and International water-disputes o Difficulty in consensus among provinces o Risk of war or scuffles with india

Conclusion

Water scarcity is the condition in which the available water resources of any country or region falls short of the demand of that country or reion. This phenomenon is global and different region has been affected by water-scarcity. Water scarcity mainly arises from two-sources, physical scarcity i.e. the absolute scarcity of water and economic scarcity i.e. the mismanagement of water resources. According to United nation development program the economic scarcity is found to be the main cause of the regions and countries experiencing water-scarcity. Pakistan being a developing country has abundant of water resources to account for the needs of its inhabitants. The Glaciers in the northern areas of Pakistan are responsible for the majority of the water needed for domestic and industrial usage. According to the Federal Minister of Science and Technology the Glaciers of Pakistan is going to melt away by 2035 due to global warming, in a conference held by Pakistan science foundation and NUST. This depicts an alarming situation as its the main source of our water. Also according to the Asian Development Outlook 2013, Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, not far from being classified as Water-Scarce , with less than 1000 cubic meters per person. Further it said that Water demand exceeds supply, which has caused maximum withdrawal from reservoirs. At present Pakistans storage capacity is limited to a 30-day supply, well below the recommended 1000 days for countries with similar climate. Climate change is affecting snowmelt and reducing the flows into Indus River, the main supply source. The causes of water scarcity in Pakistan is that of economic scarcity as nature has bestowed us with large amount of reservoirs. The main cause of this situation is caused by the mismanagement of the water resources. Almost 40 percent of the water are poured into sea and hence rendered useless. There hasnt been a single mega project for the conservation of the water since Tarbela in 1976. Neither had

any political consensus on the controversial proposed dams being made nor any steps are being made on the construction on new projects. The agriculture and industrial usage of water shifted the demand of the water upward and hence the supplies are stretched to their limits. Almost 80 percent of the illness is attributed to the poor water and sanitation problems. Another important factor which is exacting its toll on water-resources is the deforestation, which is extremely high in Pakistan. According to World wildlife foundation Pakistan is the second country in the world having a high rate of deforestation. Thus the recycling of water and absorption capability of the water is disturbed due to deforestation as forest plays an important role in the watercycle. Population also accounts for the greater demand of water, it has been estimated that in 2050 Pakistan population will be almost double. So to providing for them becomes virtually impossible. In order to make living standard better and provide better for the people already exist, population growth rate must be curbed to optimal level or else the Malthus theory of population will apply. One should cut his coat according to his clothe. The unpredictable pattern of climate and the global warming have made the depletion of water-resources at a greater pace. In the past 100 years the world temperature has risen by 1 percent which is phenomenal. Global warming and climatic change has its own reasons and causes but it affects the glaciers, a major source of water. According to our science and Technology Minister Zahid Hamid, Pakistan is contributing 0.34 percent of greenhouse gases which are responsible for global warming. However it is the eight most vulnerable country facing climate changes. These factors have sever implication for Pakistan. The socio-economic problems can be further exacerbated due to acuteness of the issue. Fresh water reservoirs and excessive pumping of underground water have receded the underground

water channels. Thus clean drinking water constituted a problem and will thus accounts for the large number of health issues. Agriculture and industry are very likely to be affected by the water scarcity and thus the productivity ll far short which in turn ll make the lead to the unemployment. Also food insecurity will be also experienced in the country as in chain-effect. The politicians have locked horns unnecessary on the controversial projects while ignoring sites where dams and storages can be made for conservation of water. India had already built large number of dams keeping in view the importance of water in the coming future but here the political point scoring is the driving vehicle. It can rightly concluded from the above discussion that water shortage in Pakistan is not that of absolute nature but largely of mismanagement of the waterresources. Conservation of the flowing water is the need of the hour and without any delay conservation facilities like dams and other infrastructures for storage are needed to be built. India water aggression should be countered on international forums. Enough water resources are here but our problem is managerial one and side by side addressing the other variable in this equation needs to be addressed in ensuring water-security for the nation.