The business community including Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry responding to the call of Prime Minister Imran Khan for construction of dams announced to fully support this noble cause to save the country from drought and water starvation.
SAARC Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik said that water worth US $20 billion flows into sea annually without utility that causes colossal human and property loss. He said starting of immediate construction of Diamer-Bhasha, Mohmand dams is a positive and timely direction towards saving Pakistan from Indian water aggression and ensure cheap electricity for future generations in the country. He said all the chambers and trade bodies and associations affiliated with FPCCI will contribute generously.
He said according to the international yardstick, every country should have a minimum water storage capacity for 120 days whereas Pakistan could store water for only 30 days while most of the developed countries have 1-2 years water storage capability. The agriculture productivity in Pakistan in the wake of just 30 days water storage capacity has alarmingly tumbled because of the water scarcity and its contribution towards gross domestic product has lowered by 21.8 per cent of GDP," he said, adding that India has the ability to store water for 120-220 days. Egypt has 1,000 days water storage capacity only on River Nile, America 900 days on River Colorado, Australia 600 and South Africa has the ability to store water for 500 days on River Orange.
Criticizing the apathy of the previous governments and concerned authorities in regard of saving water, he said Pakistan dumps water worth approximately $20 billion into the sea each year due to absence of water conservation systems. "The country needs three Mangla-sized dams to conserve the amount of water that goes to sea each year as the country faces a 36 per cent shortage in its water requirements at the moment," he said, if no water reservoirs are made, the country faces an extreme water shortage in the coming years. He made an impassioned appeal to the entire business community that it is high time to come forward and donate to save their future generation from starvations.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) also announced a donation of Rs 1 million for construction of Diamer-Bhasha, Mohmand dams' funds. PFC Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq said it was high time to work as a nation and overcome menace of water scarcity through a national resolve to leave behind a better and prosperous country for the future generations.
Highlighting the current deplorable condition of water scarcity in the country, the PFC chief said Pakistan is one of the 36 most water-stressed countries in the world. Pakistan is also in the top 10 of countries with the most people living without clean drinking water. Currently, 16 million people in Pakistan have no other option than collecting unsafe water for drinking and cleaning, leading to massive amounts of water-borne disease. He said fields are flooded with water from canals or tube wells. Other water scarce countries have moved to drip irrigation systems or sprinkler systems that use much less water.