Water Crisis its implications and solution to the problem

Introduction: Water being a valuable basic ingredient, it needs to be

saved at all cost for the survival of human and animal life. No doubt, it
is our sacred duty to do so.

Thesis Statement: Although Pakistan is currently facing an acute

water shortage that is likely to wreak havoc in the country in the coming
years but with streamlined, and calibrated reforms in water
management system this water scarcity can be averted.

1. Pakistan is going to Face Serious water crises by 2025-

Ground Zero

2. Effects of Water Crisis in Pakistan if not dealt properly

A. Agrarian Nature of Economy

B. Water is Necessary for Development

i. Hydro Power Plants

ii. Industrialization

C. Water scarcity is a main cause of many diseases

i. Infant’s mortality

D. Water scarcity is a hurdle in Provincial harmony

E. Water scarcity affects the daily life routine in ruler

and urbane areas
3. Causes of Water Scarcity:

A. Natural Causes:

i.Arid and Semi-arid area

ii.Climate Change

B. Causes at National Level:

i. Mismanagement of Water Recourses

ii. In effectiveness of IRSA

iii. Antediluvian Irrigation System

iv. In adequate capacity of Existing Dams and Storage

Capacity

v. Lack of Political Will

C. Causes at International Level:

i. Violation of Indus Water Treaty

ii. India-Afghan Water Nexuses

4. Steps that are taken to overcome this problem so far

i. Pakistan’s First National Water Policy

ii. Water Commission

 iii. Water Policies at Provincial Level

iv. Vision 2025

5. Water management as a solution to water scarcity

A. Lessons from the Colorado River basin

B. Implementation of National Water Policy

C. IWR Should be re-negotiated

D. Negotiation with Afghanistan for Chitral and Kabul River

E. Must follow the Vision 2025

F. Reforms in Irrigation System

G. Prefer less water Consumable crops

H. Restructurings in All Water Management Bodies

I. Amendment is required in Existing Billing System

J. Healthy Participation of all Private Stake Holders

K. Media Campaign towards moral obligation regarding this

issue
Water being a valuable basic ingredient, it needs to be saved at all cost
for the survival of human and animal life. No doubt, it is our sacred
duty to do so. Water scarcity is not a specified issue with Pakistan. It
has become a worldwide phenomenon. In the face of the 71 percent
Earth's surface covered with water, and the oceans holding about 96.5
percent of all Earth's water there is ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’
“Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.” Water scarcity is
being faced by most of the countries of the world including the United
States, India, Sub-Saharan Africa, and even Bangladesh but the case of
Pakistan is different. Currently Pakistan’s economy is one of the world’s
most water-intensive economies in terms of cubic meters consumed per
unit of GDP. And Pakistan declared as water scares country by United
Nation Development Program the statement also endorsed by Pakistan
Council for research in water recourse. UNDP also warned the Pakistan
for absolute scarcity by the year 2025, the repercussions of which can
be seen in various fields of life. Although Pakistan is currently facing an
acute water shortage that is likely to wreak havoc in the country in the
coming years but with streamlined, and calibrated reforms in water
management system this water scarcity can be averted.

The water crisis in Pakistan is both a supply and a demand side issue
with various contributing factors at play. On achieving statehood in
1947, the country held 5,300 cubic meters of water per capita, which
has now been reduced to 1000 cubic meters. The relevant data shows
that Pakistan is inching towards a severe water crisis. Reports by the
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as well as the Pakistan
Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has alerted that the
country will reach absolute water scarcity by the year 2025. At present
Pakistan is facing a shortage of around 33 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of
water. According to a 2015 IMF report, the demand for water is
projected to reach 274 MAF by 2025, while supply is expected to remain
stagnant at 191 MAF, resulting in a demand-supply gap of
approximately 83 MAF. According to one UNO report Pakistan is at the
7th position in the world facing the water crisis. According to this
report, water scarcity in Pakistan could lead to serious political issues in
the coming years. At the moment about one-third population of
Pakistan lacks access to safe drinking water which is leading to many
water-borne diseases. The Falkenmark Water Stress Indicator sets
1,000 cubic meters per capita as the threshold where water shortage
starts hurting economic growth. This figure was 5,650 cubic meter per
capita in 1947 and has come down to 850 cubic meters in 2017 put us in
the list of water-starved countries. This figure is going to come down to
500 cubic meters by the year 2025.