ISLAMABAD, May 30: Per capita water availability is declining at an alarming rate and within the next 50 years over 90 per cent of available sources of water in the country will be fully utilised, according to the latest official study.

“Water is a scarce resource in Pakistan and a sensitive political issue, especially among the provinces which compete for water in growing seasons,” says the report, which is available with Dawn.

In 1951, the per capita water availability in Pakistan was 5,300 cubic meters. Today, this figure is 105 cubic meters, right at the scarcity level. Estimates by the International Water Management Institute indicate that Pakistan is among 17 countries which are likely to face “the most severe water scarcity by 2025”.

Pakistan’s rapidly growing population means greater fragmentation of farmlands, greater competition for water and further pressure on fragile and marginal lands.

The study proposes to the government to work out an effective strategy to deal with flash floods. “It is estimated that between 1950 and 2001, total losses from floods have been in the order of $10 billion and over 6,000 lives lost,” it adds.

A pilot study for water harvesting and agriculture development has been planned to remove the growing scarcity of water across the country. The activities will be carried out by involving local communities, for which community-based organisations will be formed. The study will initially be conducted at Kacho area, Johi taluka, Dadu.

“The existing watercourses will be rehabilitated and a number of small dams and water harvesting structures will be constructed to promote agriculture and afforestation,” the study says. To provide clean and safe drinking water, additional drinking water supply schemes will be developed with the integration of bio-sand filters for cleaning of biological contamination from water, it says.

The study says flooding is a regular feature in arid and semi-arid regions of the country, usually caused by heavy downpour during monsoon. Deforestation, soil erosion and compaction contribute to flooding.

Agriculture contributes about 25 per cent to Pakistan’s GDP and 60 per cent to foreign exchange earning. “Agricultural growth will be critical in the coming years because Pakistan will have to double its cereal production, particularly wheat, to meet food demands of the growing population. Sixty-eight per cent of the population depends on the sector for their livelihoods and 46 per cent of the labour force is employed directly in it.”