HYDERABAD – Eminent hydrologist and water expert of Pakistan Dr Hassan Abbas said that a mega vision and strong will was needed to tackle the water challenges of the country.
He expressed these remarks while addressing the participants of the graduate seminar on “Pakistan’s Water Challenges: Need for Integrated Water Resources Management”, organized by U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W) Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro on Friday.
The USPCAS-W organized the event in collaboration with the Center for Social Change (CSC).
Talking about the existing irrigation system, he said that the irrigation canals were made to provide water for agriculture but due to flood irrigation system in Pakistan, these canals caused land degradation because of waterlogging and salinity.
He suggested developing riverine good fields for clean, fresh and sustainable water supply for both agriculture and domestic purposes.
He also recommended that the businesses on the intrinsic value of water, i.e., developing water-front real estates, ecotourism, water sports, etc.
Sharing the way forward, he said that Sindh being in the lower riparian region could provide leadership for effective and efficient water governance and IWRM in the country.
In this connection, he emphasised and illustrated on efficient irrigation in Rohri canal command, inland navigation up to Kotri, urban canal for aquifer recharge and intrinsic value projects in Karachi.
The seminar was followed by the question and answer session, in which the participants asked various questions regarding the way forward for sustainable solutions to the water challenges faced by Pakistan.
He also highlighted the Indus Water Treaty and shared its pros and cons.