Pakistan to face excessive floods & droughts in future

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that as per the prediction, the Country would be excessive floods & droughts in the future due to climate change (Droughts in Pakistan).

In reply to a question by Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, the Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Faisal Vawda told the House that at present, we are again facing droughts causing lesser rainfall and reduced river inflows as an impact of climate change.

The minister said that the drought has caused severe water shortages in the Country and the estimated water shortage for irrigation supplies during the current Rabi season is about 38%.

Faisal Vawda told that to tackle this issue, we need to take structural measures such as construction of dams on war footing basis to store the flood water which will not only control the damage but also help us during droughts by providing the stored water. He added that this will also help to manage the energy crises by providing cheap electricity to the national grid.

The water resources minister further informed that the government is continuously striving for development of water reservoirs in the Country.

The minister said that the federal government through its executing agency WAPDA has completed Mangla Dam Raising (2.88 million acre feet (MAF)), Gomal Zam Dam (0.892 MAF), Satpara Dam (0.053 MAF) and Darawat Dam (0.089 MAF) to store water with a total storage capacity of 3.914 MAF

While Diamer Basha Dam (6.4 MAF), Mohmand (Munda) Dam (0.676 MAF), Kurram Tangi Dam (0.90 MAF) and Nai Gaj Dam (0.16 MAF) are at implementation stage, he added.

Moreover, he told that following projects having cumulative water storage capacity of 21.415 MAF which are at various stages of planning:

Projects                                Storage Capacity (MAF)

Kurram Tangi Stage-II            0.90

Winder Dam                          0.36

Naulong Dam                        0.20

Kalabagh Dam                       6.10

ShyokDam                            5.40

Akhori Dam                           6.00

Bara Dam                             0.062

Chiniot Dam                          1.00

Hingol Dam                           0.521

Bhimber Dam                        0.040

Badinzai Dam                        0.300

Daraban Zam Dam                 0.069

Tank Zam Dam                      0.289

Sukleji Dam                          0.042

Dotara Dam                          0.132