Environment/Science
Environment/Science
Experts caution Pakistan may soon witness famine-like situation if water crisis continues

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 06 Jul 2021, 11:15 am Print

Experts caution Pakistan may soon witness famine-like situation if water crisis continues Pakistan Water Crisis

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Islamabad: Pakistani experts have warned that the country may face a famine-like situation due to scarcity of water.

The experts said the water shortage issue should be solved immediately to solve the impending trouble.

Water scarcity in the country has set alarm bells ringing after rivers have dried up due to low rainfall, while India also continues to block the flow of water towards Pakistan, making the situation worse than ever before, reports Geo News.

Sources told Geo News that the per capita availability of water in the country is 1,100 million cubic metres per annum — which is dangerously low — while in Punjab one has to go to a depth of 600 feet to draw groundwater. In the past, one had to go to a depth of 50 feet only.

Water experts warn that if new water reservoirs are not created and water wastage is not stopped, Pakistan will face a famine-like situation.

According to water experts, due to increasing population, water loss and climate change, the authorities will have to take immediate precautions, otherwise, famine will be inevitable.

The President of Pakistan Engineering Congress Amjad Saeed told Geo News that the water problem may increase in upcoming days.

"About 7 million acre-feet of fresh water is lost to the sea every year. If this is not the authorities incompetence, then I don't know what is," Saeed told Geo News.