First, due to the increasing scale of saline or brackish water, there is increased contamination of ground water with excess sodium level and hence unavailability of soft or sweet water for domestic and agriculture consumption.
The second issue relates to the degradation of mangrove forests, which can overcome the first issue, and significantly compounds the problem for the coastal areas of Pakistan.
In the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan, especially along the coastal belt of Gwadar and Karachi, ground water is often brackish or saline due to its proximity to the sea.
According to estimates, each year in Pakistan an equivalent of 650 acres of dense mangrove forests is used as fuel in the coastal areas.
Scientists consider mangroves a natural agent of converting saline water into fresh water.
However, this technology has certain drawbacks such as high energy consumption, short durability, treatment of membrane fouling and high maintenance cost.
In case of Pakistan, the plant may use solar energy to operate the desalination plants.
Nature itself is an efficient and effective way to overcome the problem of saline water.
They have a natural ability to filter sodium from contaminated ground water.
Such incentives and awareness regarding the significance of mangroves among the local communities should be taken up by the government.