PEW wants immediate construction of KBD
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Steps suggested to combat water scarcity
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday asked the government to initiate immediate construction of Kalabagh dam (KBD) so that Pakistan can remain a fertile country.
It called for settling disputes to construct mega projects without which future of the country and coming generations will remain bleak.
Demand and supply gas for water has reached alarming levels which will make Pakistan a desert in a decade if immediate steps were not taken, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
Talking to Chairperson of IWCCI Committee on Trade and Industry Tabassum Anwar he said that unholy alliance between tanker mafia and water officials has resulted in closure of hundreds of factories in Karachi which should be noticed.
He said that politicians should settle their dispute in the larger national interest and government should declare water as most important issue of national security without wasting more time.
Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that climate change, melting glaciers and well as water aggression by India has resulted in rapid depletion of rivers and groundwater in almost all the parts of the country.
He said that different areas have been witnessing reduction in water table which has increased the cost of pumping water through tube wells.
Scarcity of water is to hurt water rural population, crops and industry creating problems like unemployment and food security.
Pakistan’s population would be 250 million by 2025, demand for water would be at 338 billion cubic meter while availability would be 236 BCM creating many challenges.
At the occasion Tabassum Anwar said that government should try to stop neighbouring country from stealing our water, introduce new verities of seed, train farmers to use less water and make reservoirs to store floodwater to improve the water table.
She said that water is a grave issue but government seems unconcerned as politics has emerged as its top priority which is against national interests.
