Most of the Pakistanis depends on water for their livelihood as Pakistan being an agrarian economy and global warming at the present rate should serve an alarm bell for putting the house in order before it is too late. We need small/large water reservoirs on war-footing to meet the growing energy and food demand of about 70 million people.
This was stated by former ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, while speaking at the first seminar on series pertaining to "Climate Change: Challenges in the Pakistan Context," here on Tuesday. If flood becomes a regular challenge, it would have immense effect on security and economy of the country, Kakakhel said, adding that we are not taking the challenges of population, education and climate change seriously.
Kakakhel said, "Artic seas are melting at alarming pace, which would not only cause devastating floods, but would also be a serious challenge to glacier system. Water is extremely important for Pakistan, otherwise it would multiply its hardship." Further shedding light on the subject, he said that being an agro-based economy one thirds of our land is first class, rest is arid and semi-arid. Agriculture contributes 23 per cent to economy. If the situation persists, there would be no agriculture except in the north.
He said that at global level there is whole intuitional framework as in Rio and Bali, Pakistan was lead country in recommending measures to reduce carbon emission and avert climate change, adding that in 2008, taskforce on climate change prepared a report for Copenhagen, where we were have to make new deal on climate change. It was a 34 pages encyclopedia, it has hundred recommendations, but there was no prioritization, he maintained.
He said food security, water and energy crisis has to be handled in a more effective manner, as there is total mismanagement in energy and water sectors. "We have enough food at macro level, but food is not accessible at lowest level to population, whereas its quality is also below standard," he added. While commenting on Indus Water Treaty, he said that it has not resolved any of the problems, but it intensified them. "About 78 per cent of our water comes from India, Nepal and Afghanistan, as we have no home-grown water source, whereas India is supporting water projects in Afghanistan," he maintained.
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