THE menace of global warming is badly affecting Pakistan particularly its northern areas. An acute water shortage in the area is because of global warming. I have collected these facts over 10 years while studying climate change and its effects.

According to the World Bank, Pakistan is among the top most-water stressed countries of the world by 2025 as per capita water will drop below 1,000 cubic metres, the threshold for water-scarce countries.

The water paucity will badly affect the agriculture sector which is the largest contributor to our GDP and also have an adverse impact on hydel power-plants, the second largest source of Pakistan’s power source, as many power plants will stop production owing to water scarcity.

Malakand division is the natural reservoir and aquifier of fresh underground water because of its high altitude. Its lofty mountains partially covered with snow and green valley with a huge diversity of plants and sedimentary rocks give it a pristine scenic beauty. Unfortunately, it will bear the brunt of global warming.

The hills of Buner district were once covered with trees but hardly 10 per cent of them are left standing. Kalil, a tourist site located 800 metres above sea level, had no less than 50 brooks and waterfalls a decade ago. Today there only three brooks and no waterfall. Self-pumping tubewells in the Pir Baba valley have either dried out or their output reduced to half with five of them completely dried out.

The Manglawar stream next to Mingora has had no rain for two years. Ten other streams which had water all year have dried up. The scarcity of drinkable water is obvious in lower Dir, Batkhila, Chakdara, Barikot, Daggar, Chinglai, and Ambela. Sadly all this is the tip of iceberg.

The campaign to plant a billion trees is appreciable but allowing billions of gallons of fresh water to go waste into the sea is condemnable. Small scale reservoirs are needed on small brooks and streams to store rain water. A massive forestation campaign and planned water supply must be ensured to make judicious use of this commodity. A proper mechanism be introduced in factories to filter waste and recycle water from industries.

Khaistah Khan

Buner

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2017