ISLAMABAD - The federal government and provinces have agreed that transfer of political power from one regime to the other will not affect water sector development in any way as Pakistan Water Charter has warned that water scarcity is inching towards a full-blown water crisis.
"The looming shortage of water in our beloved country has now become a grave threat to our food, energy and water security and today, Pakistan's water economy is in acute danger of running dry," said Pakistan Water Charter that was signed by the federal government and provinces last week.
"This charter is a call to action and the declaration of a water emergency and we must now look beyond our differences and come together as a nation to rise to the challenge that is before us," pledged by the Federal and provincial governments.
"Our per capita availability of water, which was above 5,200 cubic meters at the time of independence, has now dropped below the minimum threshold of 1,000 cubic meters per head, officially making us a water scarce country," said the Pakistan Water Charter available with The Nation.
In the charter it was admitted that "the progress we have made, in the early four decades, is now under threat and this extraordinary situation requires extra ordinary measures,". "Business-as-usual is simply no longer an option," it added.
"We need to focus all our energy and acumen, not only to avert an anthropogenic water crisis but to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as Pakistan is considered by experts to be one of the most climate vulnerable countries on the planet. If the glacial melt which accounts for 40 percent of our river flows accelerates, we will face heavy flooding in some years and as the snow cap shrinks, the annual river flows will begin to decline. This, combined with the more than usual variations in rainfall, can play havoc with the country's agriculture sector and threaten its food security system."
There was consensus among the federal and provincial governments that demand-supply gap of freshwater is broadening on account of the population explosion, rapid urbanization and sub-optimal use of this precious resource in all sectors. There was also consensus that sustainable consumption and production patterns need to be adopted by law as a water intensive foot-print is no longer an option.
There is no additional water available to inject in the Indus River System, a holistic and aggressive management regime for the judicious use of available resources is mandatory. Being a single basin country lying in a Monsoon region, Pakistan needs to build a number of reservoirs so as to conserve some of annual surplus flows that escape into the sea, the parties to the charter agreed. Keeping in view the effects of sea water intrusion, importance of conserving aquatic ecosystem and to act as a shield against water related disasters and climate change.
According the charter contamination of water has taken its toll on public health and 80 percent diseases are water borne, responsible for billions of rupees in lost productivity and medical and social costs.
The federal and provincial governments have pledged that with the commitment and intent to achieve water security for our people, we hereby pledge that;
1. Top most priority will be given to water sector and development spending will be increased significantly with judicious distribution among all sub sectors including disaster management.
2. Inter provincial coordination will be fostered to implement transformational infrastructure development in an equitable and amicable and harmonious manner
3. Transfer of political power from one regime to the other does not affect water sector development in any way and that approved projects shall continue as per agreed time and cost stipulations
4. Water resources planning and development will be entrusted to high level qualified professionals.
"We firmly resolve that dedicated efforts will be made and all resources will be utilized to avert the water crisis and mitigate the anticipated impact of climate change on water security. We believe that sincere efforts made today will translate into a water secure future for the coming generations of Pakistan, and we pledge to leave no stone unturned in this endeavor."