Govt lauded for focusing development of water sector

Lahore: Chairman of the United International Group Mian Shahid on Wednesday lauded the government efforts to develop the water sector.

He said that extra attention is needed for the uplift of the critical sector as Pakistan tops list of water intensive economies and it is included in the list of three most water stressed countries.

Talking to Patron Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders Shahid Rasheed Butt, he said that per capita water availability in Pakistan has dropped from 1500 cubic feet to 1017 in last six years. The per capita water availability in US stands at 6000, Australia 5000, Brazil 4000 and China 3000 cubic meters.

Mian Shahid said that rivers are drying forcing us to use ground water which is the last option for survival. The water table in Lahore has receded by 20 feet in last five years, same is the situation in other areas which is pushing country towards a crisis.

Cheap water is a reason behind its wastage as Irrigation Department can just collect 25 percent of its cost while municipalities can make it to 50 percent only.

Charging consumers of water according to their capacity will discourage the wastage of water.

Pakistan can store water enough for 30 days while India can store water for 220 days. The water storage limit of Tarbela has dwindled from 9.65 million acre feet to 6.56 MAF while the Indus river system, life line for country will lose two-third of capacity in a decade which must be taken seriously.

He said that increase in water level in Tarbela or Mangla by one foot helps economy grow by one billion rupees.