A large number of students, water experts, specialists, climatologists, and the government representative raise their voices to record their concern for water scarcity. They appealed to private and government sector to work on water issue on a war footing.
The seminar on “Water Security and Emerging Threats in Pakistan” organized by Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS).
Chairman WAPDA, Shamsul Mulk, Chairman Gomal Damaan Area Water Partnership, Brigadier (R) Muhammad Aslam Khan, Vice President CGSS, Mr. Babur Suhail, Member Advisory Board CGSS Khalid Rahim, and Chairman-Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) Muhammad Ashraf were included in guest speaker list of the seminar.
“Water that was an asset in past, blood for agricultural lands has now become a threat for all us. Our dams have no water and everyday drinking water is becoming less and less”, said Chairman CGSS Lt Gen (R) Zahirul Islam while giving his opening remarks in the seminar.
He further added that this is the result of mismanagement and ignorance towards the water that is a vital product. He also said that our traditional rival India is a major threat to our water security both on the other hand population burst is also a reason for water scarcity. Both India Pakistan wants a bigger water reservoir for them and struggling hard to get this.
Shamsul Mulk has presented his paper on “Political, Economic and Social Issues faced by Pakistan in Securing Water Resources”. He enlightens the participants on the importance of water management. He said that water resource is very important. He illuminated another issue that is pollution to water resources. We truly need role models for management of sustainable water resources. He also pointed out to bureaucracy escapes regarding the implementation of new projects, reforms, delaying certain projects that have increased the burden on the economy of Pakistan.
“We have a strong perception against the wrong doing of India with current water status of Pakistan. He highlighted all the principles of Indus Water Treaty. He also informed about the water clash of Indian Kishanganga hydel project and Neelum–Jhelum Power Plant. Indian does not consider itself responsible for water shed as they claim that they are using less than their irrigation requirement and Pakistan is getting more water. May be India is using water as a weapon of war”, said Brigadier (R) Aslam while speaking on “Realistic Appraisal of Indus water Treaty”.