World News | 24 major Pakistani cities without access to clean water: report

Karachi [Pakistan]March 23 (ANI): Nearly 30 million Pakistanis lack access to clean water, 80 percent of people living in 24 major cities lack access to clean water, and 16 million slum dwellers in Karachi lack access to running water, Asia Lite reports.

Pakistan has experienced several problems since independence, but the most critical problem in the country is the lack of water.

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According to an estimate by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan will be completely dry and barren by 2025 if the necessary steps are not taken to protect water resources.

For Pakistan, several factors exacerbate water security concerns. First and foremost, the demand for water has skyrocketed due to escalating population growth in the country. With a population of more than 220 million, the country’s water demand could reach 274 million acre-feet, while supply could remain at 191 million acre-feet, Asian Lite reported.

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In addition, old and deteriorating water infrastructure affects water storage and retention due to large cracks in canals and sand-fill dams. With massive amounts of water being wasted, it is unable to meet the country’s growing water demand and supply.

In addition, crops such as wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane commonly grown in the country are water-intensive and require large amounts of water, consuming approximately 95% of available water while contributing less than 5% to GDP (GDP value).

Apart from waterways, Pakistan also relies on rainwater for its water supply. Climate change has exacerbated the water crisis, affecting rainfall patterns and causing severe water shortages in the country, leading to prolonged droughts. This makes managing already limited water resources even more challenging, Asian Lite reported.

The impact of Pakistan’s water crisis is already being felt. Nearly 30 million Pakistanis lack access to clean water, 80 percent of people in 24 major cities lack access to clean water, and 16 million slum dwellers in Karachi lack access to piped water, Asian Lite said in a report.

Karachi has a total area of ​​about 3530 square kilometers and a population of about 14.9 million. Karachi’s water supply is dependent on surface water and groundwater. Surface water sources include the Hub Dam and two lakes, Haleji and Keenjhar, while groundwater sources include the Dumlottee well field, Asia Brief reported.

However, the water supply from these wells is negligible as the rainy season remains dry for the rest of the year. In addition, due to over-exploitation and seawater intrusion, the groundwater quality in most areas is saline.

Reports also indicate that the water is of substandard quality and often contains feces and other health hazards. In Pakistan, where more than 65 percent of the population is exposed to contaminated water, arsenic has been found in the drinking water of millions.

Karachi’s water shortage is so severe that even Pakistan’s largest airport faces a water shortage of 500,000 gallons per day, compared to the 800,000 gallons it needs to operate.

Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change, and water shortages are likely to deepen both in intensity and frequency in the next decade.

Mohammed Khalid Idrees Rana, Director of Operations at the Indus System Authority, said: “Climate change has severely affected our water inflow from glaciers…if the current temperature persists for another seven to eight days, we may have to cut off our share of the provinces.”

The most water-scarce area in Pakistan is Sindh, especially the city of Karachi. in a huge heat wave. According to Asian Lite, the city is struggling to provide water to its people.

The city has depleted most of its groundwater aquifers and the natural recharge has been replaced by the demands of Karachi’s growing population.

Some Karachi people have turned to the black market in water tankers, known locally as the “tanker mafia”, to sell water at inflated prices. Originally intended as a short-term solution while the city develops its water infrastructure, the waterwheels now control most of Karachi’s water supply, Asian Lite reported.

The trucks draw water from more than 100 illegal fire hydrants that feed into the main water supply. The water truck mafia then sells water at high prices to consumers, people and businesses in Karachi who should have it.

Many households disconnected from municipal water lines have no choice but to rely on an intricate network of tanker trucks to alleviate water shortages.

Until recently, Karachi’s water crisis gave organized criminals an excuse to steal water and sell it via tanker trucks. Water theft is rampant. According to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), 42 percent of water is lost or stolen before reaching consumers in Karachi.

Illegal tapping of water lines is exacerbating the city’s existing water shortages. The government says they have cracked down on the tanker mafia, but many residents of Karachi continue to blame the tanker mafia for the city’s water shortage.

One of the main causes of the water crisis is poor management of water resources. Pakistan’s water infrastructure is old and inadequate, with little investment in new dams, canals and reservoirs over the past few decades.

In some areas of Karachi, the collusion of water board officials has also created a man-made water crisis, whereby citizens of these areas are forced to fetch water by tanker trucks. However, Asian Lite reported that top officials at the water board have not shown seriousness in addressing the long-standing problem.

Also, despite an increase in staff numbers in Karachi, there has been no focus for more than a decade on completing projects to guarantee a steady supply of water to the city’s residents. As a result, Karachi’s water demand of more than 16 million people of approximately 1,200 MGD cannot be met as only 420 MGD of water is currently supplied.

An official from the water bureau said that the negligence and incompetence of some of the bureau’s personnel have contributed to the city’s current water crisis.

In addition, water and sewage pipes are corroded and often run parallel to each other, causing cross-contamination. As a result, most people in Karachi do not have access to safe and clean water.

Excessively long water lines can also cause problems, such as leaks and water theft, which cause nearly 30% of the city’s water supply to be lost. The situation was exacerbated by the poor performance of outdated and inefficient pumping stations, Asian Lite reported.

Karachi’s water crisis is undoubtedly part of a wider trend of water insecurity plaguing the entire country. A robust regulatory framework should be in place to regulate the use and allocation of water resources fairly and sustainably. According to Asian Lite, Pakistan’s water crisis is a complex, multifaceted challenge that requires urgent attention and action from all stakeholders. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)