Water Crisis In KP: Rising Population & Climate Change Strain Resources

APP

Peshawar: In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, especially in Nowshera, Peshawar and Charsadda, residents are facing deteriorated water quality following the devastating floods of 2022. These floods have severely impacted groundwater, leaving many areas with unsafe drinking water.

Despite experiencing 22 significant floods over the past 55 years, Pakistan has made limited progress in constructing small, medium, or large dams. Such infrastructure could help alleviate water scarcity and reduce flood risks during the monsoon season.

The country’s rapidly growing population, now exceeding 241 million, is placing increasing pressure on the nation’ s water and agricultural resources, particularly in the context of climate change.

Kamal Khan, a poor farmer from Mohib Banda village in Nowshera district, shared his daily struggle of travelling 10 km to fetch clean drinking water due to groundwater contamination in his village. Many other residents in nearby towns rely on water sources in urban areas like Pabbi Nowshera, Charsadda, and Peshawar for potable water.

Government Hospital Pabbi Nowshera Senior Children’s Specialist Malik Riaz Khan highlighted the health risks associated with contaminated water, including diarrhoea, cholera and other waterborne diseases.

Dr Riaz warned that polluted water also contributes to stunted growth and malnutrition among children and lactating mothers.

University of Peshawar Professor (retd.) Dr Zilakat Malik pointed out that the population is expected to exceed 400 million by 2050, with water demand projected to reach 274 million acre-feet (MAF) by 2025, compared to a supply of only 191 MAF. Water availability per capita has already fallen from 5,229 cubic meters in 1962, he added.

Dr Malik claimed that Pakistan treats about one per cent of its wastewater—one of the lowest rates globally. Additionally, around 40 per cent of water is lost due to spillage, seepage, side leakage, and bank cuttings, along with irregular profiling of bank alignments.

Approximately 97 per cent of Pakistan’s freshwater is used by the agriculture sector. Furthermore, 30 per cent of land is expected to become waterlogged and 13 per cent saline in the coming years if new dams are not constructed on a priority basis. Fast-melting glaciers due to global warming increase the likelihood of floods.

Former Conservator of Forests Gulzar Rehman said that the lack of dam construction since the completion of Tarbela Dam has negatively impacted the country’s water situation. He pointed out that while about 46,000 dams have been built globally—including 22,104 by China and 5,334 by India—Pakistan has constructed only about 150 small and large dams since its inception.

Small dams could be constructed in KP within a short span of three years, while large dams typically require 10 to 15 years and more investment, Gulzar added. Pakistan will need an additional 76 MAF of water by 2050, which is only achievable through the construction of small dams to meet growing demand.

The National Water Policy (NWP) 2018 revealed that Pakistan is heading towards severe water shortages due to a lack of dams, which could lead to food insecurity. The policy indicates that per capita surface water availability has significantly declined from 5,260 cubic meters per year in 1951 to around 1,000 cubic meters in 2016, with a projected drop to 860 cubic meters in the coming years.

Small dams are favoured in developing countries like those in the SAARC region for agricultural irrigation and drinking water because they are cost- and time-efficient and do not require foreign investment. Small dams can be constructed in two to three years, compared to the 10 to 15 years needed for large dams.

Small Dams KP Directorate reported that 56 small dams, costing Rs26.7 billion with a storage capacity of 281,410 acre-feet, have been completed in KP. Additionally, 30 more small dams, at a cost of Rs43.6 billion, will be completed soon.

Currently, 18 dam projects are underway, with 12 for tribal districts and 14 small dam projects in final stages expected to be completed this year. These include Khattak Banda Dam in Kohat, Makh Banda and Latambar dams in Karak, Jaroba Dam in Nowshera, and Pezu Dam in Lakki Marwat. These 14 small dams will store 46,400 acre-feet of water and irrigate 34,000 acres of land.

In addition to the completion of the 108 MW Golen Gol Dam in Chitral, the federal government is accelerating work on the 800 MW Mohmand Dam, which will have a water storage capacity of 1.293 MAF. Upon completion, the Mohmand Dam will supplement irrigation for 160,000 acres of land, provide 300 million gallons of water per day for Peshawar’s drinking needs, and offer significant flood mitigation benefits. These megaprojects, once completed, are expected to address water scarcity issues and counter food security challenges amid the growing population.