Running Dry: Water Scarcity in Pakistan
Abstract
With a water shortage reaching alarming proportions, Pakistan shows every sign that it is on its way to a serious water crisis. Such external factors as climate change and trans-boundary developments pose some problems for Pakistans water supply; poor resource management at all levels of Pakistans government and administration exacerbates the crisis. While most people attribute the crisis simply to the lack of adequate storage capacity, very few recognize that the heart of the problem lies in other water resource management issues: inefficient supply and delivery systems, irrational distribution and consumption patterns, low irrigation efficiency, incorrect selection of crops, overexploitation of groundwater, and other governance and administrative failures. The states apparent apathy and indifference to this looming crisis represent an even greater crisis. This thesis asks: With no additional water to import, how can Pakistan cope successfully with its water scarcity? After taking stock of the water resources and identifying the causes adding to the crisis, this thesis offers a way forward on conservation and efficiency, storage, modernization of irrigated agriculture, crop selection, public awareness, regulatory framework, and other governance and administrative measures to enable Pakistan to cope with this resource crisis successfully.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1080277
Entities
People
- Muhammad Jamil
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School