Experts said that Pakistan needs to establish an effective network of all segments of the society to address growing water security prevailing across the country.
According to Khan Faraz, an environmental expert, Pakistan has the worst water security in terms of urban, economic, environmental, and other factors. There is an urgent need to take bold steps to address the widespread water scarcity in Pakistan.
According to experts at the multi-stakeholder consultative workshop, Pakistan needs to establish an effective network of all segments of society to address the country’s growing water security issues.
According to experts at a workshop on “Transformative Futures for Water Security: Setting Priorities for Water Research, Knowledge, and Innovation,” Pakistan needs to establish an effective network of all segments of society, from scientists to policymakers to civil society, with a focus on mainstreaming youth and gender to address the growing water security concerns prevailing across the country.
In addition, for greater water security, there is a need to build joint commitments to science-based action on water security across policy, development, business, and science constituencies. Khan Faraz elaborated.
He went on to say that climate change is intensifying the hydrological water cycle, which means more water risks and extreme floods and droughts. As a result, this action will be led by youth, policymakers, businesses, communities, farmers, conservation organisations, and sectors other than water.
According to the experts at the workshop, Pakistan will face a 30% water shortage by 2030, despite the fact that more than 60% of the country’s population is currently drinking contaminated water. In addition, the country is experiencing groundwater depletion.
Water scarcity crisis in Pakistan is the result of poor water governance and system inefficiency. As a result, water security needs to be prioritized from the perspective of how water is used, as up to 90 percent of the country’s water resources are used in the agriculture sector.
Pakistan is facing a water scarcity crisis due to a combination of factors, including population growth, urbanization, and climate change. The country’s water resources are being depleted at an alarming rate, with many regions experiencing severe water shortages.