ISLAMABAD, February 4, 2019 Pakistan can get more economic, social and environmental benefits from its water, subject to urgent reforms to improve water use efficiency and service delivery, says a new report from the World Bank. Almost 30 million Pakistanis have no clean water. T. Akhtar, H. F. Khan, and M.. Daanish, Water security in Pakistan: availability, accessibility and utilisation, Water Resources of Pakistan, Springer, Cham, pp. More than 80% of Pakistan lies in the arid and semi-arid zones,characterized by highly erratic,unpredictable and low precipitation,excessive evapo-transpiration and high summer temperature. 525539, 2016. However, the greatest health impact is being witnessed in the countries which have least share in greenhouse emissions [4]. Pakistan is heavily relying on agricultural sector for its international exports and domestic food demands, but in the presence of water crisis and conventional irrigation system for its agricultural production, the country will face severe challenges of water scarcity in times to come. A. Guterres, Secretary-Generals video message on flash appeal in support of Pakistan flood response plan for Pakistan, 2022, https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022-08-30/secretary-generals-video-message-flash-appeal-support-of-pakistan-flood-response-plan-for-pakistan. Elections are looming. In the years when rainfall is normal or above,the country generally doesnt face any water shortage,where as in below average rainfall period it does. This has happened just few weeks earlier. While rising population, rapid urbanization and climate change effects are some of the reasons for the widening gap between water availability and water requirement, the FAO has found the. A. Wardekker, A. de Jong, L. Van Bree, W. C. Turkenburg, and J. P. Van Der Sluijs, Health risks of climate change: an assessment of uncertainties and its implications for adaptation policies, Environmental Health, vol. Global data and statistics, research and publications, and topics in poverty and development, The World Banks digital platform for live-streaming, Environmental and Social Policies for Projects, International Development Association (IDA). An overview on emerging water scarcity in Pakistan, its causes, impacts 48844892, 2021. Pakistan's Scarce Water Can Bring More Value to People and Economy Likewise, its unemployment and inflation rates are one of the highest in the region. The ongoing situation has also impurified subsurface drinking water due to seepage of contaminated flood water deep in Earth, and governments inability for effective disposal of sewage water. Such illegal water channels mostly exist adjacent to sanitation systems in cities and rural areas, contaminating the available water. 6, pp. 1, pp. Presently Pakistan is going worst draught and water crisis of its history which is likely to persist for few years. This is extremely critical situation for the state to cope with the needs of the masses and economic challenges when there is a scarcity of sustainable renewable and nonrenewable resources. Asia, South Insufficient water storage exists in Canada (694 MAF), THE U.S.A. (1420 MAF), China (2280 MAF), India (245 MAF), and Pakistan (13.20 MAF) [87]. G. Woodward, D. M. Perkins, and L. E. Brown, Climate change and freshwater ecosystems: impacts across multiple levels of organization, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. The per capita annual availability of water has reduced from 5140 m3 in 1950 to 1000 m3 now. The growing population is directly impacting the environment as the number of vehicles on roads and the number of industries to accommodate these individuals will also increase. S. Khan, Y. Guan, F. Khan, and Z. Khan, A comprehensive index for measuring water security in an urbanizing world: the case of Pakistans capital, Water, vol. The country is facing extreme weather events leading to water scarcity. Before the words Shia and Sunni came into existence there were only Muslims, just true Muslims. The loss to national economy is estimated at US$ 30 billion [11]. Flood control and regulation policies are essential to reduce the risks of economic downturn, a threat to human existence, and to sustain the ecology. 1, p. 166, 2020. When the recent stampedes over food flooded social media, so did the deeper questions: How did the country end up here? It is worrying that omicron is also spreading terribly in Pakistan and it is also worying that people seem carefree from this natural force. Mariyam is a development specialist and a freelance writer from Gwadar. Y. Ali, H. Pervez, and J. Khan, Selection of the most feasible wastewater treatment technology in Pakistan using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), Water Conservation Science and Engineering, vol. 11, pp. In rural areas, wastewater treatment is almost nonexistent, leading to pollution of surface and groundwater [56]. 6, pp. H. M. Nazir, I. Hussain, M. I. Zafar, Z. Ali, and N. M. AbdEl-Salam, Classification of drinking water quality index and identification of significant factors, Water Resources Management, vol. The IRSA is mandated to address, regulate, and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for water allocation to the provinces. Various protocols and initiatives like Kyoto Protocol, Copenhagen accord, and Paris accord had been initiated by the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 785788, 1996. It is felt that this study shall help the relevant government ministries as an academic policy input for addressing water security issues in Pakistan on sustainable basis. Pakistan: Flood Damages and Economic Losses Over USD 30 billion and As of December 2022, Pakistan held $126.3 billion in external debt and liabilities, of which 30 percent is owed to China. Instead of the promised economic growth through CPEC, Chinas loans may have worsened Pakistans economic crisis. D. Eckstein, K. Vera, and L. Schafer, Global Climate Risk Index 2021, Berlin Germany, German Watch, January 31, 2021. However, China remains leading in that aspect in the year 2022 as well. 4. Due to which Pakistan is included in the most water-stressed country in South Asia. The study has been completed by considering drought and floods data from primary and secondary sources with particular focus on this year. Reacting to the recent flood situation in Pakistan, the Finance Minister Mr Miftah Ismail stated that Pakistan is dealing with the worst effects of the climate change, which has caused over US$ 30 billion loss to Pakistans economy and displacing 33 million people [9]. Australian officials played an important role in creating the countrys democratic system, but have been puzzlingly silent as Prime Minister Hun Sen has leveled it to its foundations. 78, no. Inadequate Water Management: There is a lack of adequate management practices in Pakistan. She tweets at @mariyamsuleman. Homes once inhabited by resistance fighters are specifically targeted to send a message to residents of what lies in store if they engage in anti-junta activities. Kilimo saved 72 billion litres of water in 2022, says Ramos, equivalent to two months of water consumption for the whole of Santiago, the capital of Chile. This has led to an . Poor water management is conservatively estimated to cost 4 percent of GDP or around $12 billion per year. Water crisis in Pakistan: Facts and solutions - The Nation The countrys current situation has multiple causes, including overall poor economic management, corruption, and excessive spending on defense and the armed forces. C. Garrett, Most Polluted Countries in the World: 2022 Ranking, Selectra, 2021. October 03, 2021 Opinions, Letters The water crisis is becoming a current rising issue in Pakistan which is showing hazardous results for many. C. Garrett, Most Polluted Countries in the World: 2022 Ranking, Selectra, France, Paris, p. 2021, May 28. There are many reasons behind this scarcity like overpopulation, water . The tacit approval from the water management departments has resulted in water theft cases mostly in Southern Punjab and interior Sindh, as there are many illegal drillings, hidden pipelines, and unrecorded water connections from main supply lines. Being a lower riparian, Sindh is often complaining about the water shortage, especially in the pre-monsoon period each year. The study examines the impact of climate change on Pakistan during the year 2022, resulting into unprecedented heatwave and drought in summers followed by the abnormal rains and floods during monsoon season. The men and material losses are enormous and therefore, Pakistan is likely to face water crisis, food shortages, and serious implications for human security. Pakistan has been blessed with regular agricultural cycles that have sustained its economy through successive crises. This study explores the impacts of climate change on the availability, usage, and storage of water in Pakistan. But the recent research in the year 2022 has discovered a hole in the Tropics (Tropics are the regions of the Earth near the equator) which is seven times bigger than the Antarctic region [16]. 271, no. The contamination of water along with the presence of sanitary pipelines expose the population with the contagious and chronic diseases like diarrhea, cholera, jaundice, typhoid, hepatitis C, liver cancer, and gastrointestinal infections. Nonavailability of compatible medical support, inaccessibility, and nondisposal of flood water have created many health risks and entire population in affected areas is vulnerable to adverse effects of contaminated water. Coronavirus has returned with a vengeance in the form of 3rd, Read More Covid-19An incessant dangerContinue, Soha Nisar It is with great regret that despite countless protests and petitions sent to the authorities for basic women rights and justice, all attempts fell in vain and yet again we witness another woman facing the brunt of public harassment. Countries like Pakistan where socioeconomic challenges, such as rising population, lack of political will, internal security issues, urbanization, lack of public policies for managing population, and natural resources are growing at a faster pace as compared with its economic growth. Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi urged nuclear weapons states to join ASEAN's regional nuclear-free zone. 1, pp. The World Bank Group works in every major area of development. for Us. An In-Depth Analysis of Physical Blue and Green . The increase in anthropogenic activities is also causing water stress on natural reservoirs. The Indus Basin, which is the bedrock of agriculture support in Pakistan is seriously threatened by the negative impacts of climate change. Most of Pakistans economy is dependent on the agricultural sector; however, the industrial sector also contributes a great deal to the economic growth of Pakistan. F. Nabeela, A. Azizullah, R. Bibi et al., Microbial contamination of drinking water in Pakistana review, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. As Pakistan consists of multiple ethnicities and diversified geographical terrain but competition over the access of water resources has often created tensions and conflicts among the federating units. It depicts a dark and gloomy picture of our society where misogynistic patriarchal mindset, Read More Minar-e-Pakistan assault confirms Yes, all menContinue, Written by: Aneela Habib, By Lesley Hazelton, We are living in an era where our daily life is being bombarded with Shia Sunni conflicts. M. Khan, Impact of urbanization on water resources of Pakistan: a review, NUST Journal of Engineering Sciences, vol. Another key focus for the government is minimising the financial damage to the tourist industry, which represents 90% of the local economy. 6716, 2012. It is essential to integrate the respective departments under the umbrella of national and provincial disaster response agencies for harmonious functioning, coordination, and execution. These costs are dominated by inadequate domestic water supply and sanitation, but also include the costs of floods and droughts. The developed countries remain aloof of devastating effects of greenhouse gas emission is causing to the ozone layer. The Nation: Dealing with Pakistan's growing water insecurity 6672, 2015. Creating unnecessary fault lines is detrimental to national integration, which should be avoided at all costs. A. Guterres, Dont flood the world today, Dont Drown It Tomorrow, UN Chief Implores Leaders, UN News, vol. J. Barnett, Security and climate change, Global Environmental Change, vol. Severe water scarcity is already having a negative impact on the country's public health and the economy. (PDF) Causes and effects of water scarcity on agriculture in Pakistan 13, no. Since 1962, after the formalization of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with India, per inhabitant water availability has plummeted from 5229 cubic meters to about 1187 in 2017, which is continuously on the downward slide [30]. Climate Change: Climate change is stressing the availability of freshwater resources in Pakistan. The water scarcity in Pakistan has enormous impact on health care system as well as the country is struggling with the diseases that are almost nonexistential in developed countries. The decreasing quantity and increasing demand of fresh water widen the gap between its availability and demand. D. Eckstein, V. Kunzel, and L. Schafer, Global Climate Risk Index 2021, German Watch, 2021. Ahmad, Y. Yu, J. P. Stewart, S. M. M. A. Shah, and Z. I Khero, Development of the Indus River system model to evaluate reservoir sedimentation impacts on water security in Pakistan, Water, vol. Impact of abnormal melting of glaciers, nonavailability of dams for storage of rainwater, and lack of smart means for agriculture water have been examined to empirically validate the arguments. The floods have devastated the agriculture, livestock, and infrastructure. Stay up to date with the biggest stories of the day with ANC's 'Dateline Philippines' (21 July 2023) | ABS-CBN News Channel, Philippines 30, no. Impact of water insecurity amidst endemic and pandemic in Pakistan: Two According to the WHO, about two billion people lack access to safe drinking water, while 4.2bn do not have adequate . Per capita availability of water reservoirs in Pakistan [, Copyright 2022 Waseem Ishaque et al. The lack of progress in agricultural sector is also linked with the mismanagement of land and water resources, unsatisfactory policies of water governance, exponential population growth, and the negative impacts of climate change. 695707, 2020. The more alarming situation is that, despite all this, the industrialized countries are less concerned by the deteriorating ozone and increase in global warming. W. van der Hoek, S. G. Feenstra, and F. Konradsen, Availability of irrigation water for domestic use in Pakistan: its impact on prevalence of diarrhoea and nutritional status of children, Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, vol. The direct impacts of water crises in Pakistan have reduced crop, range land, forest productivity and water level. At the same time it will enable us to utilize every drop of our water for our bright future. 1728, 2011. The study is very contemporary and relevant and expected to provide valuable policy guidelines to relevant government ministries in Pakistan as they are grappling with the ongoing flood situation and rehabilitation process. Food and energy security is directly influenced by water security for agrarian society like Pakistan, which contributes more than 23% in national GDP. The latest UN report on Pakistans growing population indicates that by 2050, the population is likely to exceed 366 million [31], which will compound the water demand, which is predicted to reach 274-million-acre feet (MAF) by 2025 against available water supply of 191 MAF. It is also important to note that the primary source of water in Pakistan is sub-surface water channels, which over a period have become the hub of different variants of pathogens. A. Guterres, Flood-hit Pakistan, Guterres appeals for massive global support, tougher action on climate change, UNIX News, vol. However, this accord was unable to deal with the conflicts arising due to unfair distribution of water at times. The study examines the impact of climate change on Pakistan during the year 2022, resulting into unprecedented heatwave and drought in summers followed by the abnormal rains and floods during monsoon season. Introduction Global water scarcity is a leading challenge for continued human development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2. (iii) Kishanganga project on river Neelam. The research findings have discovered other factors as well affecting water quality, which include surface debris, sporadic water supply, improper discharge of water supply, proximity of sewage water to drinking water lines, industrial waste which has now become very common in almost all major cities in Pakistan, discharge of untreated sewage water and highly incompetent technical workers and service providers on water disposal projects [42]. But the situation was not stable even prior to these crises. Pakistan has serious issues with access to clean water, especially in large metropolitan cities like Karachi. Rivers, lakes and the extensive Indus Delta are severely degraded undermining important ecosystem services. India has constructed more than fifty big and small dams on the rivers coming to Pakistan, which are a constant source of irritation in the bilateral relations and vital for Pakistans water and energy security. 20932106, 2010. A. Siddiqui, Pakistans Population to Surge by 56pc to 366m by 2050, The News, July 13, 2022, 'World%20Population%20Prospects%202022. Therefore, the phenomena of climate change are producing many threats on the Earth surface, ranging from droughts, heavy precipitation, and heatwaves to unprecedented tropical cyclones [3]. Why is Pakistan running dry? - DW - 06/07/2018 - dw.com For now, transparency over government spending is the need of the hour, along with restructuring the countrys economy from one that overspends on defense institutions and excessively relies on foreign debt with high interest to a model that is sustainable. 15 Apr 2021 Many blame China for the high interest it charges on loans that have burdened many developing countries including Pakistan. The global fresh water shortage and food security issues related to the teeming billions of population necessitated the shifting of fresh water from agriculture to other more pressing uses. Water issue is not only related with the environmental degradation, but also linked with the social factors as abnormal population growth causes a rise in demand of clean water resources, disturbance of equilibrium between communities, provinces, and water resources distribution. The data used to support the findings of this study are included within this article. Pakistan's Water Crisis - The Diplomat 1340, 2003. Water security in Pakistan is reaching a critical point that demands urgent attention and reform, said Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. Under scarce surface water, ground water resources (last resort to water supply) are being over utilized. In recent times, it has been a growing concern that precious blue is becoming inadequate resource for future of human survival [23]. Grain prices rise after Russian pullout of Black Sea deal sparks food 'We can't escape': climate crisis is driving up cost of living in the Despite a groundbreaking ruling from the Supreme Court, there is a long way to go before LGBTQ couples in this landlocked South Asian country are genuinely equal. If the water crisis in Pakistan is not solved, the impact felt by people in the country will worsen. A. J. McMichael, D. H. Campbell-Lendrum, C. F. Corvaln, and K. L. Ebi, Andrew githeko, joel D. Scheraga, and alistair woodward, Climate Change and Human Health: Risks and Responses, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, pp. The climate change is happening right now, and its effects are being felt around the world [6]. CSS Essay: Water Crisis in PAKISTAN - Causes and Consequences - CSS Times 21, no. 101 East Pakistan's Water Crisis With water wars predicted to escalate amid worsening climate change, we go undercover in Pakistan, where water thieves are proliferating. Water Crisis in Pakistan, its Impact on the Economy and Potential Solutions. Grain prices had fallen by more than a third (35%) under the deal, which had been in place for just under a year in an attempt to alleviate a food crisis prompted by Russia's blockade of . The Water Crisis In Pakistan - BORGEN A constant decline in the value of the countrys currency has resulted in much higher tariffs with every import of oil. The 2022-2023 Pakistani economic crisis is an ongoing economic crisis and part of 2022-2023 political unrest in Pakistan.It has caused severe economic challenges for months due to which food, gas and oil prices have risen. The field visits to rural and urban areas of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Baluchistan were conducted for obtaining the first-hand information and data on the impacts of flood situation. The stagnant water has been contaminated due to mixing of sewage water and created ideal breading grounds for bacteria causing serious health risks. Click here to subscribe for full access. Pakistan heavily relies on imported oil. Water insecurity in a global context Water insecurity is defined in broader terms as a "deficiency in the availability and access to adequate safe and clean water to the common man that is not only important for his physical and mental wellbeing but also to perform daily, healthy living activities and household chores." of Pakistan's economy. The amount of fresh water has remained constant on Earth surface since last 100 years; however, the access to water resources is unbalanced [24] with the rapid population growth, urbanization, and deforestation. So, improving water use efficiency and productivity, delivery of water services in cities and in irrigation, and addressing environmental sustainability are the most pressing needs, according to this new analysis. M. K. Daud, M. Nafees, S. Ali et al., Drinking water quality status and contamination in Pakistan, BioMed Research International, vol. Climate change and managing water crisis: Pakistan's perspective Uneven and procyclical economic policies: Many policies in Pakistan that aimed to boost growth cost rising . There is dire need to create strong national realization to conserve, preserve, and proportionally distribute existing water resources [57]. The field visits to rural and urban Sindh, KPK, and Baluchistan vindicated scarcity and contamination of drinking water, which has been reported by several NGOs and media as well. The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) is assigned the task of ensuring clean drinking water across Pakistan. However, Punjab government took good initiative and introduced national water policy of Pakistan to ensure regularization of water governance system in the country. Loss in gross domestic product (GDP) as a direct impact of the floods is projected to be around 2.2 percent of FY22 GDP. United States remain on second number with 4.4 billion tons of CO2 emissions, while India is third producing 2.3 billion tons of CO2. The PASA estimates that available water will further deplete by 2025 to a level of 660 cubic meters and by 2050 will reach 575 cubic meters as shown in Figure 9 below [51]. Highlights include: calling on the political leadership to actively take up the water cause, improving agricultural water use efficiency, maintaining and upgrading existing water. According to Figure 5, the above countries might not appear as the top 10 global CO2 contributors, but they fall in the top 10 per capita CO2 contributors, due to their large-scale reliance on oil and small number of populations. The availability of clean drinking water is biggest national security challenge for Pakistan today. All these disasters have varying degree of impact over different geographical zones, resulting into environmental, health, economic, and social impact. The irrigation water shortage has a direct and an indirect impact on the production of various crops, which ends up in reducing the crop production. The infrastructure development in flood affected areas should be expedited for which essential resources should be mobilized well in time. Pakistan's Economic Crisis: What Went Wrong? - The Diplomat The growing depletion of the ozone layer is resulting in increased Ultraviolet (UV) radiations level on the surface of Earth, which has detrimental impact on human health resulting in cancer and weak immune system [14]. 557, no. The common causes are an upsurge in the atmospheric temperatures, with an inbuilt tendency to take heat to the threshold of drinking water, microbes, organic chemicals, nutrients, and heavy metals [41]. The NASA issued satellite imagery on the flood situation in Pakistan, which is given in Figure 7. 42334246, 2016. It will have to repay $80 billion in the coming three years. Pakistan is vulnerable to the negative consequences of climate change, therefore, susceptible to unusual weather patterns, which can create strategic challenges [7]. Delaying the IMF program has negatively affected investor confidence, increased inflation, and hindered growth prospects. But it is still too early to conclude whether CPEC debts will drain the Pakistani economy or open up opportunities for growth in the future. Therefore, for Pakistan, alarm bells are ringing to take the holistic stock of situation by declaring climate emergency and adopt whole of nation and whole of government approaches for a comprehensive response ensuring strong interagency cooperation and capitalizing on the synergetic application of all Elements of National Power (EoNP) for optimum results. Power, Crossroads 5778, 2021. While irrigation dominates water use in the country, the four major crops (rice, wheat, sugarcane and cotton) that use 80 percent of water contribute only 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In most areas, the disposal of flood water is left to the nature and the government agencies have demonstrated inability to manage it, therefore, spread of waterborne diseases will continue for prolonged period in future. 1, 2022. water are having a disproportionate impact on the regions and people who actually get water. Water Crisis in Pakistan: A Dynamic CGE-Water Model - ResearchGate Similarly, other issues, such as technological waste, growing industrialization, global warming, and climate change, all are among the key contributing factors for extreme water scarcity [25]. It is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. While skin problems are visible, cosmetics could have other hazardous impacts, Muhammad Ali Baig Sir Julian Corbett, a British maritime strategist said during World War-I that doctrine is the soul of warfare. It is suggested that Pakistan should consider climate diplomacy as an urgent priority and initiate the process of engagement at bilateral and multilateral levels with developed countries to reduce the vulnerabilities and risks of climate change. Another reason of growing water scarcity is unlawful construction and sanitation systems near or over the water channels, which continuously contaminate water, especially during floods blend these altogether. 529536, 2022. Because of such developments, fresh drinking water is available to hardly 20% of population, while 80% population is content with drinking of contaminated water [44].
