Pakistan is a country very vulnerable to the threat of water scarcity, as it is now considered a water-stressed country. Pakistan is ranked 14th among 17 extremely high-risk countries of the world (Pakistan Institute of Development Economics). Pakistan’s water resources are depleting on a large scale. The main reasons are unchecked extraction of groundwater, irrigation system inefficiencies, irregular rainfall (due to climate change from various human activities), and poor management. Pakistan is an agricultural country that uses most of the water for irrigation. Due to inefficient irrigation systems, a lot of water goes to waste.
A major issue in Pakistan is the unavailability of clean drinking water, of which water pollution is the main reason. Groundwater becomes unavailable for consumption when improperly treated waste from fields, factories, and industries mixes with it. Low rainfall causes water scarcity in different parts of Sindh, such as Thar. Pakistan is a country that faces floods and drought-like situations at the same time. In some parts, people die due to floods, while in some parts, people die due to water unavailability. What a pity! Last year, floods in Punjab and KPK caused many deaths and injuries; on the other hand, infrastructure also faced heavy damage. Our government, instead of taking steps to deal with the situation, often blames India for releasing or stopping water in the rivers. But the reality is that it is not India’s fault; it is our poor governance, as India stores water in less rainfall and releases it in high rainfall. How long will we blame others for our own negligence? It is our fault that we haven’t built enough dams to manage water-related issues.
Pakistan’s water-storing capacity is very low; it can store water only for about 30 days, while many other countries can store it for 100 to 200 days. According to a report by the International Commission on Large Dams, “India has built over 5000 large dams since independence; Pakistan operates roughly 150.” Dams are very essential to cope with the growing water issues, but unfortunately our politicians are busy doing politics instead of taking long-lasting steps to solve the problem. They have even politicised Kala Bagh Dam, which could have been very beneficial. Khurshid Shah called it a death warrant for Sindh. ANP says that it can only be built over their dead bodies. There might be issues, but meaningful discussion between the provinces can solve them. Because dialogue can solve many problems. Dams must be built, as they can also help the country meet its electricity needs. It is time to think seriously and take practical steps that can help us and our future generations address water issues; otherwise, there will be drastic consequences.