US Support to Indian Water Aggression Disappointing
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The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday said frustration in Sindh over issue of Chashma-Jhelum link canal is a small part of a much larger problem.
Water protests can take an ugly turn and become a major source of disagreement if left unresolved, it said.
Political government can add another feather to its hat by breaking the ice. Scarcity of water merits urgent attention as it has the potential to harm provincial harmony. It can engage Pakistan in conflict with neighbours, warned Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
Govt has the mandate and ability to broker a deal over construction of mega water reservoirs to contain paucity of water, he said while talking to a group of engineering consultants led by Arshad Mahmood Awan.
Unfortunately, a technical issue like water resource management has transformed into a serious political problem which is a great domestic challenge, said Dr. Mughal.
At the occasion, Awan said that 94% of the water is in seas, 4% is sub-surface, 1.65% is in glaciers and 0.35% of water is available in lakes and rivers. Only 0.007% is fit for human consumption.
The situation demands building major dams and undertake measures like adequate storage, careful use and recycling, he said.
No major project has been executed in the past thirty years while the storage capacity of Mangla and Tarbela has dropped by 33 % to 11.72 million acre feet, he added.
Country cannot afford water mismanagement as 37% of cultivable land out of 34.31 million hectares depends on irrigation system, said Arshad Mahmood.
Provinces must learn to sacrifice for bigger national gains. Our leadership needs vision as well as spirit of nationalism to keep country away from approaching tragedy.
Hillary’s support to Indian water aggression is disappointing; it should be taken as a wake-up call.
