In Pakistan people are relying upon rains and monsoon downpours when water flows down the rivers and also goes down the land surface to elevate the underground water level utilised for irrigation and drinking purposes. According to Pakistan Water Partner(PWP) the total available surface water is about 153 million MAF and the total ground water reserves are approximately 24 MAF.

Recently, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) highlighted an acute water shortage in the Indus Basin irrigation system (IBIS), the world’s largest contiguous irrigation system, for the summer cropping season.
Pakistan is running out of fresh water at a panic rate, and authorities foresee that it is likely to suffer a shortage of 31 million acre-feet (MAF) of water by 2025. The shortfall will be devastating for a country with an agriculture-based economy. Nearly 70 percent of the Pakistan’s population is directly or indirectly associated with agriculture, which accounts for 26 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).

Farmers are probably to feel the deficit in the form of in-season water shortages, which in turn, will affect their crop growth and delay harvesting, resulting in down grade production. In Pakistan, the majority of agricultural land is irrigated, after accounting for ground and rainwater, with fresh water from the IBIS.

The IBIS is fed through two major dams including Tarbela and Mangla, which since construction, have lost storage volume owing to enormous silt deposition. Both reservoirs are already hitting a dead level and are unlikely to carry forward the required flow for the summer crops.

Such a crisis is inevitable in a country where political leaders are busy slinging mud at each other in a longing for power while lacking vision. These leaders also oppose the construction of new infrastructure for storing water. The fact that the word “dam” has been made highly controversial and that its use often spurs heated discussions between the constituent provinces aptly highlights Pakistan’s dilemma.

Pakistan needs to learn from countries with even less water but higher domestic product (GDP) and better rank of life indicators such as Israel, a country right in the middle of a desert that has been able to reuse waste-water to irrigate about 40 percent of its agricultural land with sound political will, economic resources and by employing the right technology.

It’s a difficult task for the state to save water not only for agriculture but also for human consumption and to meet the rising water demand in other social and economic sectors. This demands improved water governance, management and investment in scientific knowledge, all of which contain commitment and resources. It’s time for decisive action. So, amid all these promising issues, the federal and provincial governments must take proper immediate measures. There is a burning obligation to formulate and enforce realistic policies and while drawing up them, the solution to this problem must be the top priority of all the future governments as well. At this point, Pakistan is gradually running short of water.

It is an apprehensive situation for all of us. Constructions of new dams, plantations of trees, responsible use of household water, awareness campaigns, conducting seminars at the institutional level, effective role of the authorities concerned and of the media are some factors that can help us solve this mega problem. Water pricing and the distribution of water should be done by adopting adequate policy measures. We need to realize these things before visualizing a better future.

However, the only action that we have witnessed recently is an informed and a well-meaning one, by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, who has settled a donation fund for the constructions of dams.

In most of the cases, people are inclined to contribute, but the questions arise and the donors are more anxious with the use of the money at the right place. This fund has been created by CJP, who has been very much active lately with regard to administrative matters. For fulfilling the financial needs of the people these projects are quite lively and energetic.

One can just hope that this fund will be utilized at the right place. On the other side, if the cost of dams is observed than overall cost of both dams is quite high as compared to the amount gathered till this time in the fund, still every penny can prove fruitful if used at the right place.