FOR a developing country like Pakistan, which relies heavily on its agriculture, water scarcity may have serious repercussions on its economy and the prosperity of its people. With the everincreasing population and growing urbanisation, the demand for water isrising rapidly in the country, unlike the supply, which is mostly stagnant.

The already limited and erratic water supply is further affected by climate change and pollution. If the authorities fail to take immediate steps, food and water insecurity will increase the hardships and inequalities for the vulnerable segments of society.

From an anthropological perspective, water scarcity is an issue that indicates not just the depletion of natural resources, but also the depletion of social resources. Since water is the core element needed for running households as well as agricultural and industrial units, its inaccessibility halts development and affects vast fractions of society. With droughts prevailing in various regions of Pakistan, the challenges of malnutrition and deteriorating health due to the consumption of polluted water are massive.

The water problem has been neglected for many years, but we cannot ignore it any longer. A warmer climate has now become unavoidable. Therefore, we need to equip ourselves and effectively respond to climate change and its related challenges, like water scarcity.

Shaf i Ahmed Khowaja Hyderabad