Water Problems in Pakistan

Water is an important source for life on Earth. About 3/4 or 71% of the surface of earth consist of water. Fresh and drinkable water is not only the need of human beings; it is the dire need of the animals and agriculture around the globe. Fresh drinkable water is 50% of the total water resources in the world.The available drinkable water comes through rainfall or is obtained from the rivers. At present at least 20 countries of the world are facing acute shortage of water due to small water resources and unpredictable rainfall.

It is unfortunate that Pakistan blindly neglected its water requirements in the past. Neither positive nor detailed planning has been undertaken to explore and access the water resources of the country. Moreover all the rivers that flow in Pakistan have their origin in India who controls the water of these rivers according to its own requirements. Pakistan’s water problems, therefore, have been redoubled due to apathy on part of the government authorities and geographical location of our rivers.

Population growth is one of the major factors to increase the pressure on water resources. The water consumption almost became double in the last fifty years. Amid 1970 and 1990 existing per capital water supply reduce by one third. So Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of water. Also Pakistan is under economic stress as 80% population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture. Pakistan is only dependent on Indus basin and its tributaries. Indus is the part of the great water system of Pakistan and occupies a key position in the system. To make the full use of the Indus river system, water resources of nearly 100 MAF capacities will be required whereas the available resources of water in Pakistan are 25 MAF capacities.

Pakistan is in position to generate water sources of 40 MAF, it means that 30-40% water is wasted, which could be saved for irrigation purpose.

The only way to solve the water problem is to build more Dams on the Indus River, such as Bhasha, Skardu and Kalabagh Dams. So the construction of Kalabagh Dam is a hot topic in the country. But this Dam is becoming a matter of dispute among the four provinces. Controversies are common among four provinces on water sharing because of provincial prejudice and narrow social political agenda, which stand like hurdles in the way of construction of new Dams.