Sachal Abbassi writes about the effects of using water recklessly in Pakistan and its disastrous consequences

If you are to accept the Darwanian narrative of origins of life on Earth, you can’t possibly deny the significance water played in the evolution. Indeed, the presence of biodiversity highly correlates with availability and composition of water, which ultimately affects the climate. It was natural habitat and the environment which determined genetic framework of different species, and water did play a pivotal role in this process. Yet, unlike other products of evolution, we humans, having mental abilities, can adapt much better to varying natural environment.

Human mind, however, may never be able to rid man of his bodily thirst for water and as such, our existence is intrinsically dependent upon water. Fresh and uncontaminated water is requisite of human survival; therefore, in the interest of preventing mass extinction of life from this planet, it should be used with prudence so it does not undermine the needs of our future generations.

Safe drinking water is not the only water need of man’s survival; water is also needed in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. For an agriculture-intensive economy such as Pakistan, water for drinking and agricultural purposes is all the more important. To fully comprehend its importance, it is necessary to understand how a water crisis in Pakistan will affect its agriculture sector and eventually the people. With population now crossing 170-million mark, water needs to be adequately available in the future to prevent a famine.

It is estimated that almost 70 per cent of water is utilised in agriculture, although that figure may be higher in Pakistan. Most of the arable land is used in the production of wheat, sugarcane, cotton and rice, and therefore, Pakistan is amongst the world’s largest exporters of such crops. A water crisis or shortage would mean that geographical dispersion of water would decrease, which in turn would drastically reduce arable land. Under such conditions, farmable land would have to be used for production of crops which are part of our stable diet, and production of sugarcane and cotton will have to be curtailed to pave the way for basic necessities.

Pakistan may no longer be able to export cotton which will undermine its GDP and foreign exchange in monetary terms and, inevitably, its reliance on importing food from other countries. Indeed, a water shortage will imply a food shortage. Water shortage does entail cuts in crop production, but the situation may seem worse if one is to contemplate the high water requirement for livestock production. Water footprint of calories derived from crops is considerably lower that that of meat and this discrepancy is largely because livestock requires more water for production.

Farm animals not only contribute to the staple diet but also form an economic backbone of our GDP, amounting to 10 per cent of it. Livestock would be the hardest hit sector in Pakistan under a water crisis scenario and with its sky rocketing prices, people eventually will have to make a shift to vegan diet to fulfil their daily dietary intake.

Freshwater does significantly contribute to our annual agricultural produce, but it is not the only source of agro-production.
Pakistan’s seawater does not have a negligible contribution to its overall agricultural produce. Sea pollution, however, has posed challenges to establishing sustainable fisheries in Pakistan, and if current levels of pollution are not curtailed, the marine eco-system is likely to face further degradation and depletion. Fish prices will soar once the natural habitat of sea species is damaged beyond repair.

Water that Pakistan receives annually is fixed in its quantity with the exception of occasional floods, and it should be duly noted that climate change will drastically decrease this quantity unless strategic steps are taken which are enduring, future-orientated and dynamic in their approach to avoid any mass famine. In Pakistan, it is disappointing to observe that so little is done to preserve and supplement the existing water resources.