WATER use has been growing at more than twice the rate of the population increase in the last century, according to the World Resources Institute, a Washington thinktank.
According to the UN`s Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific 2011, Pakistan is among countries in the region that are classified as `weather hotspots`.
Hence it is essential that our policymakers plan ahead. `Good water governance is a vital element of water security`.
The earth has already warmed by 0.7 degrees Centigrade since1900 andfurther warming continues. At current trends, average global temperature could rise by 2 to 4°C in the next 50 years.
The Himalayan glaciers are melting and receding to a dangerous level. The glaciers will deplete completely in 40 years. By the middle of the 21st century 200 million people may become permanently displaced due to rising sea levels, heavy floods and longer and more intense droughts in the long run. The water will disappear permanently once the glaciers have completely melted.
The nation`s planners need to look into the feasibility of constructing dams, barrages and reservoirs on priority basis and come up with solutions to conserve and efficiently manage water resources and reduce wastage.
The solution lies in educating people to conserve the precious commodity for themselves and future generations.
