Pakistan is facing worst water crisis in this day. It is estimated that Pakistan will run dry by 2025 due to lack of management in irrigation system and lack of bigger dams for water storage. The authorities are in a deep sleep about the recent development that can cause a major setback to country’s stability.

A recent report from International Monetary Fund, Pakistan is believed to be in the top 3 countries facing acute water shortage. A survey from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) also warned authorities of a serious water shortage by 2025.

“No person whether from north or south will have any resource of water by 2025”, said Neil Buhne, UN humanitarian coordinator for Pakistan.

It will be a biggest problem for country even more bigger than terrorism if not treated and this is not the first time research organizations alerted authorities responsible about an imepeading crisis.

In 2016, PCRWR reported that Pakistan touched the “water stress line” in 1990s and crossed “water scarcity line ” in 2005. If this situation prevails for enough time and no actions taken, Pakistan is likely to face acute shortage of water like drought in near future. PCRWR is associated with Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

Pakistan has world’s fourth highest rate of water use. Its water intensity rate is highest in all over the world. Water intensity rate is the amount of water, in cubic meters used per unit of GDP. This indicates that no country is more water intensive than Pakistan.

According to survey of IMF, Pakistan’s annual water availability is 1017 cubic meters and threshold scarcity is about 1000 cubic meters a very closest ratio. According to IMF the irrigation system which is using bulk of water quantity more than any other thing is underpriced. The tax collection revenue recoverd from farmers is about quarter of its annual operating and maintainence expenses.

Population growth and urbanization are the causes associated with water crisis of south asian country. This issue has also been exacerbated by climate change. Moreover poor water management and lack of political will to handle the situation also add to water crisis.

Pakistan will approach scarcity threshold for water in a matter of time. The ground water level is also decreasing and the groundwater supplies are also depleting rapidly.

Need for Dams:

It is the time for dams to be built on large scale. Small dams should be built in large numbers to cope up with water crisis. Moreover, country’s two big water reservoirs Mangla and Tarbela Dams can supply water to country for only 30 days. While India Water reservoirs can supply for 190 days and US reservoirs can supply for 900 days. There is a lot need of dams to be built with huge storage capacity. These new and advanced water reservoirs will change the thirst future of Pakistan.

Wastage of water:

Water wastage has also added to the crisis, apart from storage issues. Foreign diplomats and other media influencers took to social media urging people to stop wasting water and minimizing use of water.

Car washing through spray pipes wastes almost 100 litres of water in a single wash while this wastage can be reduced to a one or two buckets of water. German ambassador took to Social media posting his picture while washing his car with bucket of water and urging people to use buckets instead of spray pipes.

Lack of Poltical Will:

Lack of political will may add to crisis as new dams should be built for facing water shortage but there is no any development in this field. No senator or parliamentarian discussed this issue in parliament or on media. Regional and ethnical politicians have opposed the idea of building new dams.

Sindh has always opposed building of new dams like the controversial Kalabagh Dam, they think through helper canals Punjab will steal their portion of water. Nationalist sindhi leaders have always opposed this idea of building dams as it will affect natural of Indus. Due to Indus delta Sindh has already lost its 22 lac acres of land.