President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), Mian Zahid Hussain, has said that the looming water crisis is a big threat to the survival of the country which calls for immediate action. Water scarcity continue to increase but policymakers remained aloof as allocation for the development of water resources in the ongoing fiscal have been cut by almost Rs 15 billion which is disappointing, it said.
Different national and international institutions have repeatedly warned the government about water crisis but to no avail, said President PBIF. He said that there is no proper policy made on water resources in the country since long. The third largest water resource in the world is going down by 30 to 50 meters per annum due to climate change which calls for urgent steps.
Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, Presidential Candidate of Businessmen Panel (BMP) for FPCCI while addressing the business community, said that upraising of Mangla Dam saved country from drought but more needs to be done otherwise all investments in social and economic sectors will become useless. Water scarcity will not only damage population, agriculture and industry but also lead country to a civil war between provinces, but Insha Allah after winning the FPCCI election, this issue will be addressed and attended to, he concluded.