Efficient water utilisation suggested to meet growing scarcity challenges.

HYDERABAD -- Speakers have emphasised the need for increasing efficiency in utilisation of water in order to meet growing challenges to this precious commodity and added that while Sindh being lower riparian faces unending water shortage, its upper counterpart - Punjab - brings more land under crops' cultivation.

They were speaking at a World Water Day programme organised by the Development Region-II led by Chief Engineer Zarif Iqbal Khero at Kotri Barrage here on Wednesday.

Addressing the event, Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro said Pakistan had fallen victim to water scarcity, which was evident from per capita water availability. It was around 5,000 cubic meter in 1960s, which had come down to 1,000. With such an alarming situation no one could talk about dams' construction, he said, calling for using high efficiency irrigation system in order to save water losses as much as possible.

He said the Water Accord had called for releasing 10MAF water downstream Kotri barrage, but it was not released. Then, he said, a study was conducted which determined that 25MAF water should be released downstream Kotri and that target was not met, which was essential in order to check sea intrusion in the coastal belt. The sea intrusion, he said, had spelt disaster in the coastal parts of lower Sindh region.

He said Sindh was facing over 40pc water shortage and that remained too evident, but the upper riparian produced more crops and was bringing more land under cultivation. It was quite contrasting that water shortage was affecting the entire system, but the lower riparian faced a different scenario and upper riparian remained comfortable with water availability.

He said that paddy acreage was increasing in Punjab as well. The Pakistan Peoples Party had opposed Greater Thal Canal (GTC), but the previous government and its allies had approved Jalalpur canal. He added that Sindh's barrages ensured run of the river flows as there was no saving of water.

Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) vice president Syed Mahmood Nawaz Shah said that Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai had discussed water and agriculture. But, he said, 'we as common people were not ready to discuss or understand very simple points'. Challenges of water were growing and there was dire need to ensure efficiency in water utilisation. It was mindboggling that how could more land be brought under...