Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China Water Resources Beifang Investigation Design and Research Company Limited to strengthen management of water resources, WealthPK reported.

The accord aims to extend mutual collaboration in water resources management through sharing of knowledge, provision of technical expertise and transfer of technology.

The signing of the agreement is a positive development as Pakistan’s water reserves are depleting fast, and the country may face severe water scarcity by 2030.

There are four major issues plaguing the country’s water sector. The first and foremost is the rapid population growth. It is estimated that Pakistan’s current population of about 225 million will reach 245 million by 2030, thus further squeezing the water resources. Compared to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Pakistan has the highest population growth rate of 2% per annum, which has led to a decrease in per capita water availability.

A lack of storage capacity also adds to the Pakistan’s water sector woes. The capacity of three major reservoirs is only 9% against the country’s total annual inflows, which is far below the 40% in the rest of the world. During the devastating floods in 2010, 2012 and 2014, Pakistan lost 120 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water due to a lack of storage capacity.

In order to meet its water needs by 2025, Pakistan will need 27 BCM of new storage capacity. Three or four large dams need to be constructed for the purpose.

The Water and Power Development Authority is currently building three big dams, including Mohmand, Diamer-Bhasha, and Dasu, with a total capacity of 1.5, 10, and 1.4 BCM, respectively.

The rapid depletion of groundwater is the third major issue in Pakistan. More than 90% of drinking water in Pakistan comes from groundwater sources, which also provide 60% of irrigation water for agriculture. As there is no groundwater management authority in Pakistan, almost anyone can install a tubewell at any depth, which is resulting in a steep drop in water table.

Pakistan needs to set up an authority to regulate the dipping of tubwells and their depth with the help of Chinese expertise.

The fact that Pakistan does not utilise wastewater is another reason for water shortages. Wastewater is dumped into water bodies without any treatment, threatening the ecosystem. Using the Chinese expertise Pakistan could be able to reuse the wastewater.