The country like Pakistan is becoming thirsty due to climate change.
The land of rivers, glaciers, and lakes witnessing all weathers is gradually becoming thirsty and hence craves for water. The country, comprising five rivers and endless breathtakingly beautiful lakes and tributaries, is slowly drying up due to changing weather patterns and increased anthropogenic activities. With the onset of the 21st century, the process of industrialization and urbanization has gained speed. People have adopted lifestyles that are full of luxuries. Thus, those struggling with access to the basic necessities of life have to pay the price of these luxuries.
Due to excessive use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other chemicals, the environment around us is becoming a walking deathbed for everyone. One just breathes now and alas, in the next moment, he is no more. But the point to ponder is that what is causing all this? What phenomenon is behind all these happenings? Why is a land like Pakistan, which has enormous natural resources and waterfalls in almost every part of the country, struggling to access natural resources? Why is Pakistan thirsting for water? The answer lies in just two words, i.e., climate change.
Pakistan now occupies 5th position among the countries of the world which is on radar of climate change. Every sector is under turmoil of changing climate. Availability of water in the country is no exception to it. These increased human activities and excessive greenhouse gas emissions have eventually posed a negative consequence on water bodies of Pakistan. The flowing rivers and lakes of the state are becoming water stressed which is ultimately leading the country to water scarcity.
Due to changing weather patterns, increased heatwaves, and the melting of glaciers, the basic natural existence of resources in Pakistan is changing and taking on new forms. At the time of independence, the country had ample water but in just 77 years, the state of Pakistan is becoming thirsty due to the phenomenon of climate change.
As water is a basic right of every individual. It is required for every basic chore including preparation of food, sanitation, cleaning, agriculture, drinking and other purposes. But contemporarily Pakistan still cries for water. Provinces like Baluchistan and Sindh despite of experiencing deadliest floods back in 2022, still yearn for water. Estimates show that during the year 2020, Pakistan occupied the lowest position among all the South Asian countries in production of water. It is expected that by 2035 Pakistan will no longer remain a water rich country and will become a water scarce state leaving millions of individuals striving for even one drop of water.
This climate change induced water crisis also leaves a negative impact on the agricultural sector of the country, thus posing a burden on the economy as well. Crops dependent on water resources like rice, sugarcane, wheat, and cotton will not be of good quality, and even quantity will not be enough to fulfill the increasing demands of the people. These crops falling under the category of water-intensive require large amounts of water. For example, about 23% of the water supply is just devoted to wheat in Pakistan, followed by other crops. Extensive periods of drought will further aggravate the situation and hence, a deeper water crisis will be seen.
The increased water shortage will also result in a decrease in GDP. About 4.6% of GDP will be lost due to the water crisis in the coming years as agricultural production decreases. Due to the poor quality and quantity of money-earning crops, the exports of the country will be low. The drying of rivers will increase migrations from water-scarce areas to water-rich areas and thus, there is an increased chance of the initiation of a conflict (civil war) in the country.
Moreover, due to the increase in global warming, a burden on farmers will be imposed. The canals used by farmers for irrigation purposes are gradually drying. Thus, this will further intensify the poverty of farmers and their livelihoods will be in danger. As the country has an agrarian economy, the drying of the main Indus Water Basin is a growing concern for the people dependent on the basin for earning their livelihood and running the daily chores of their lives. Even the coastal communities of Pakistan will face great difficulty in earning their livelihood. As most of the people living near the coastline are dependent on fisheries and agriculture, empty water bodies will be the reason for the extinction of fish. Thus, the buying and selling of fish will decrease and poverty in the area will increase.
Even the industrial hub of the country i.e., Karachi does not have access to clean water for households. It is estimated that only less than 40% of households residing in metropolitan city have access to water while the rest 60% suffers from water shortage. In addition to this, the dilemma of the story is that the available amount of water is not fit for drinking and cooking. It is contaminated with silt which makes it unfit for use. This results in spreading of diseases and various health problems. Diseases like dengue, cholera and others can spread due to contamination of water. Problem of open defecation will be on top. Problem of malnutrition will further increase among the children below the age of five as water scarcity will increase the food insecurity in the country.
The growing water struggle of the country under climate change will pose a huge burden on women. Their deteriorating condition will further aggravate it, especially for those living in rural areas of Pakistan. Due to the drying of rivers, lakes, and wells, they have to travel long distances for fetching to fulfill their household needs. As the water crisis is increasing, these women will also suffer in a sense that the water available will be first provided to males present in the family including fathers, brothers, husbands or sons. If any water is left than that will be provided to the female counterpart. Due to decrease in water levels, their sanitation will also get impacted. They will face difficulty in dealing with their menstruation time. Moreover, they will also face difficulty in preparation of food for their family and will be open to various water borne diseases.
Thus, it can be concluded that Pakistan is suffering badly from climate change. Its effects can be seen everywhere. It is suggested that Pakistan needs to adopt those mechanisms which can cope the rising challenges of climate change and water scarcity. The land of rivers now becoming thirsty for even one drop does not portray a good image worldwide as international collaborations with MNCs, NGOs and states for economic development will suffer. One step the country can take in this regard is to shift its agricultural production on those items which utilizes less water as compared to others such as rice. This will help the country to fulfill the needs of people and can also export to other parts of the world. they can follow the model of Jordan which is facing water crisis and has shift its agricultural production from water-intensive crops to less water-intensive crops like tomatoes.
Another measure that the government immediately needs to take is to control the population. This increased population is posing a burden on the limited natural resources available. By controlling the population, remaining resources can be conserved and, in a sense, water can be preserved. Adaptation and mitigation measures should be the top priority of the government to cope with climate change. Only then can the bodies of water be preserved from the evilness of climate change and global warming.
The author is Yusra Sarwar. She is currently enrolled in the M.Phil. program in International Relations at National Defence University. Her areas of interest include the foreign policy of great powers, especially China, maritime security, sports, and climate change. The regions she is interested in looking into are the South Asian region and the Indo-Pacific region.
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