City: Rising population, climate change behind Karachi water crisis.

KARACHI -- Massive water crisis has gripped Karachi's areas of Gulistan-e-Johar, Baldia, Lyari, Orangi, Keamari, Gul Bai, Shershah, Korangi Industrial Area, Sheerin Jinnah Colony, Site Industrial Area, Korangi residential areas, Defence, Clifton, Qayyumabad, Quaidabad, Landhi and Burns Road, where on average, per family in different segments of the society has been compelled to spend approximately Rs4000 extra on drinking water monthly amid skyrocketing price hike while the residents of highly developed areas -Defence and Clifton - have pay to Rs70 billion per month on tanker water supply, according to an investigative report made by this journalist under a fellowship organized by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

The investigative report said that the reason behind crippling water crisis in the city is climate change and rising population, which need to be tackled through effective planning and management. Due to climate change, water level in Indus, which is major source of Karachi water, has declined. The water crisis has affected 14. 91 million people in the city, including owners of industries, cattle pens, hotels, schools, colleges, and other business places, in the lieu of rising tanker, can and bottled water expenses, according to the investigative report made by journalist M Nawaz Khuhro under a fellowship organized by PPF. In an interview during field visit, Mohammad Naeem Qureshi, President of National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH), said that the climate change had emerged as the biggest environmental challenge in Karachi, reducing water resource of Hub Dam since two decades.

'During the last century, the average temperature over Pakistan has increased by 0. 6AdegC, which is in conformity with the increase of average global temperature, but in Karachi, the average temperature in 25 years has risen by 6 t0 8 AdegC, which is an alarming hike, ' he said. Qureshi, who is a renowned environmentalist of Pakistan based in Karachi, said: 'The mean annual temperature has increased over Pakistan in the recent past...