Pakistan's water crisis are serious and despite numerous reports compiled by the experts on how to overcome it no worthwhile efforts are underway for construction of

Pakistan's water crisis are serious and despite numerous reports compiled by the experts on how to overcome it no worthwhile efforts are underway for construction of water dams. A country that was water abundant once is now water stressed and it is not far fetched to say that days are not very far off when drought status is likely to set if resistance to mega water dams continues.

Pakistan, fortunately, is endowed with 145 million acres feet of water per annum. Of this, Indus River provides 90 MAF (62%), Jhelum River 23 MAF (million acres feet) which is 16%, Chenab River 25 MAF which is 17%, and other small tributaries form 7.0 MAF which is about 5%. Out of 145 MAF, 102 MAF  is diverted for irrigation system while losses through seepages are 12 MAF or so. Water discharged to the sea is about 31 MAF per annum. Though the International experts are of the view that release of 8 MAF beyond Kotri should suffice to stop the Arabian  Sea intrusion. In addition, 48 MAF of underground water is pumped out annually for multiple usages.

Himalayan glaciers contribute fresh water to the Pakistani river system, but by the study conducted by the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) a joint partnership between NASA of USA and DLR of Germany. 

Asian glaciers are losing ice. Naimona'nyi glacier which feeds the Indus river has been shrinking at the rate of 5 meters per annum since four decades. It has an implication in terms of reduction in water availability for the country. Likewise, underground water reserves are depleting fast projecting yet another threat for water scarcity in many well developed cities of Pakistan.

 Alarming decrease in underground water level in Karachi from 600 to 1200 feet in the last few years. And, 3 feet per year depletion in Lahore may present an alarming situation in the upcoming years. 

Situation in Quetta, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and in other cities is not different either. The population of Pakistan is increasing at an alarming speed which will further exert an enormous pressure on the dwindling water reserves. The current population of Pakistan is about 220 million and by the end of the decade it will be 280 million. 

Simple solution for this issue is to build water dams, use water wisely and avoid wasting water. Few Dams ae under construction such as Kalabagh Dam, Akhori Dam, and Soan Dam. 

WATER SCARCITY IN PAKISTAN.

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