ISLAMABAD:* Pakistan could face severe conflicts over water resources in the near future if urgent measures are not taken to regulate *water distribution and extraction, warned **Basharat Ahmed Saeed, Senior Water Specialist at the *World Bank Group.
Speaking at a seminar on water security organized by the *Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Saeed highlighted that at the **current rate of groundwater consumption, *Pakistan could face groundwater depletion by 2030 and surface water depletion by 2037.
Key Concerns:
- Unregulated Water Use: Excessive agricultural water consumption could soon threaten urban and industrial needs.
- Rising Conflicts: Any additional water extraction by farmers or industries will impact other sectors, potentially leading to disputes.
- Climate Variability: While total annual water availability remains stable, monsoon patterns and winter precipitation have become unpredictable.
- Temperature-Driven Demand: Water demand could increase by up to 58% due to rising temperatures.
- Water Allocation Challenges: 10% of irrigation withdrawals (12 BCM) will need to be reallocated over the next three decades to support non-agricultural needs.
Saeed warned that if mismanagement continues, *Pakistan could witness riots over water, especially in regions like **Sindh, where tensions are already emerging. Participants at the seminar stressed the urgent need for **new water storage facilities, better management policies, and the development of a *water market to regulate consumption.
Additionally, the country must brace for *more extreme floods, droughts, and rising sea levels, which pose serious threats to *Sindh and Balochistan.
