DEPLETING water resources and outdated infrastructure together cause loss of water which calls for urgent tangible steps to escape the catastrophic impacts of climate change. Pakistan is among the countries worst affected by the climate change phenomenon.

Fast-growing population, unplanned urbanisation, sudden heatwaves and massive floods are threatening lives. Pakistan is also among the high-risk countries in terms of severe water scarcity, and it has the lowest productivity ratio per cubic metre of water.

There is a great need for effective data-sharing system between Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and India over transboundary rivers for better management of water. Moreover, Pakistan should construct small hydropower projects upstream to mitigate the impact of floods that are not only reducing storage capacity, but also damaging infrastructure.

There should also be remodelling of water distribution and irrigation infrastructure to protect our water resources.

Khan Faraz
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2022