Pakistan struggles to conserve water as World Water Day is being observed
Pakistan
The country wastes 18 million acre feet of water annually
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – On World Water Day, Pakistan continues to face serious challenges in water conservation.
According to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), the country wastes 18 million acre-feet of water annually, while four major water storage projects under WAPDA remain delayed.
Among these stalled projects are Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam, which could not only store water but also generate electricity and support irrigation.
More than 50% of Pakistan’s urban population lacks access to clean drinking water, highlighting the severity of the crisis. The theme for this year's World Water Day is "Glacier Preservation", emphasising the urgent need to protect these vital water sources.
According to the United Nations, climate change is accelerating glacier melting, disrupting the water cycle. Two billion people worldwide rely on glacier-fed water for drinking, energy production, and industrial use.
In 2023 alone, glaciers lost 600 gigatons of water, the highest recorded loss in 50 years. The UN stresses the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slow down glacier melting and protect future water resources.
