Senate body concerned over food security, water scarcity

42 tubewells out of order due to shortage of funds Islamabad Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change on Thursday expressed serious concern over the threat to food security and scarcity of water in the future from impacts of global warming.
Director General, Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), Irfan Tariq, told a committee ‘Production of wheat has dropped 15 percent due to shift in monsoon season.
Climate Change will have far reaching effects on Pakistan’s over all economy,’ ‘The rationing became necessary after water levels in both Simli and Khanpur dams dropped significantly.
Secretary Climate Change, Syed Abu Ahmed Akif complained that there was not a drop of water in his Sector F-6.
Senators, Sitara Ayaz and Mushahid Hussain Syed, expressed shocked over shortage of water in Islamabad.Both members urged the chairman of the committee, Senator Mir Muhammad Yousaf Badini, for a dedicated meeting on Islamabad’s water crisis.
Water in Khanpur Dam was down to 1, 925 feet compared to 1, 955 feet last year.
According to the official, out of 192 tube wells 42 were out of order due to lack of maintenance from shortage of funding.
While 20 will likely become functional within a month, remaining have become obsolete.
Secretary, Climate Change, Syed Abu Akif, proposed the government to charge residents for mining ground water.
Once completed, the twin cities will have 100 million gallons water per day each,’ said Sheikh Ansar Aziz.

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