Pakistan Leads Global Glacier Count with 6,668 Glaciers

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan boasts a staggering count of over 6,668 glaciers, making it the country with the highest glacier concentration globally. Groundwater is a substantial contributor, providing approximately 50 million acre-feet (MAF) to Pakistan’s water resources.

Agriculture stands as the largest consumer of water in Pakistan, utilizing 94 percent of irrigation water. In contrast, domestic water use represents a modest 5.2 percent of the overall water consumption, while industrial usage accounts for a mere 0.8 percent.

To confront the pressing challenges posed by water scarcity and the impact of climate change, Pakistan took a pivotal step in 2018. The country established its inaugural National Water Policy, which gained approval from the Council of Common Interest (CCI), marking a significant milestone in addressing these critical issues.

During a meeting convened in Islamabad to assess the progress of the water resource sector and the implementation status of the National Water Policy framework, Caretaker Minister for Planning Development, and Special Initiatives, Muhammad Sami Saeed, presided over the session.  Member Infrastructure, Chief Water Resources, and other pertinent stakeholders attended the gathering as stated in a press release from the ministry.The meeting highlighted that the Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) ranks as the world’s fourth-largest irrigation network, facilitating the cultivation of approximately 20.2 million hectares of land through an annual flow of 138.4 MAF in Pakistan.

In the discussion, a comprehensive overview of IBIS was provided to the minister, encompassing the system’s water availability, the aggregate sectoral water demand, and the challenges arising from population growth and inefficient utilization of water resources.

Moreover, the meeting delved into the essential elements of the National Water Policy 2018, including its strategic priorities and the national targets designated for 2023. The policy’s strategic priorities encompass conservation and efficiency, storage, renewable energy, integrated water resources management (IWRM), and regulatory frameworks.

A focal point highlighted during the meeting was the emphasis on equity and participatory decision-making among the policy’s six planning principles. The principle mandates that water sector activities should involve participation and consultation at every level, with decisions reached through consensus.The Water resource section’s primary targets for 2023 are ambitious and necessary to address the country’s water scarcity challenges. Enhancing water use efficiency by 30 percent would be a significant achievement, as it would mean using less water to produce the same amount of food and goods. Reducing conveyance loss by 33 percent would also be a major step forward, as it would conserve a significant amount of water that is currently lost to evaporation and seepage. Augmenting surface water storage by 10 MAF would provide a much-needed buffer against droughts and would also allow for the expansion of irrigation. Implementing improved mechanisms for water accounting and data collection would be essential for tracking progress towards these goals and ensuring that water resources are being used sustainably.