WORLD WATER DAY

Out of so many blessings we have, Water is the most precious gift. Today, the 22^nd March, is celebrated as Water Day worldwide since 1993, after the recommendation of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This day is celebrated annually under a different theme each year. Theme of year 2016 is “Water and Jobs”. Approximately 1.5 billion people, all around the world are engaged in water related fields. This theme is actually focusing the effects of quantity and quality of water, change the lives of workers and in long term, its effect on societies and economics. Numbers of conference and seminar held on the importance of water this day.

KUNAAR RIVER, ABBOTTABAD

CHITRAAL

GILGIT

SADPARA LAKE

UPPER KATCHURA LAKE

SKARDU

ARKARI VALLEY

RIVER INDUS

As far as Pakistan is concerned, only few of them might be aware of about the day. They might be busy in fetching pure water for drinking or buying bottles of so called mineral water. I am astonished of the fact that is there really a shortage of water in Pakistan? I cannot believe it at least after having visit of my beloved homeland Pakistan. How can I believe when I was welcomed by far sighting Snowy Mountain at Rawalpindi, tremendously flowing River Kunaar at Abbottabad, incessant chain of Giants White masses of Ice and glaciers at Naran, Kaghan and Shogran, Waterfalls at a distant of each mile, River Neelum at Kashmir and Heavy shower at Murree. How can I believe in the shortage of water in Karchi, if I have visited the lakes and river Indus in Thatta and Bhambore, Sindh. But, on the other hand, I have witnessed people waiting in line for water, including women and children. Every next house in our locality have a drilled well or boring facility to fulfill water needs not knowing its disadvantages, in short term its effect of health, and in long term it will draw down the underground water level. Our physicians are tired of recommending plenty of drinking to individual as every other patient have symptom of blood deficiency. Then where the water goes? Does it vanishes or evaporates all of it? Then where the water goes?

There comes a big picture. It comes repeatedly each year, in every news bulletin and every headlines of paper. Flood water is drowning numbers of villages. So many golden crops have washed away by the raising level of water. New lakes formed. Temporary barriers are failing in preventing the villages from drowning. Precious lives are flowing in water along with their houses, luggage and animals. Water level is rising at intersection of barrages. Our fields are over flooded. On the contrary, poor children are dying of hunger and insufficient provision of drinking water at Thar. Isn’t it seemed confusing?

Sustainable utilization of water is possible if we contribute both industrially and individually. The possible solutions on industrial level might include:

Construction of water reservoir to save rain and flood water.
Adopting advance irrigation techniques such as sprinklers, drip irrigation etc. instead of flooding the whole field.
Waste water treatment plants.
Desalination of sea water.
Avoid contaminating natural resources of water with chemical and toxic wastage of industries.

On individual level, we can save water by:
·    Using recycle water for flushing.
·    Use water of dish washing for plants. Do watering in early morning or late afternoon.
·    Turn off tap, while brushing or applying face wash.
·    Fix a dripping faucet at first priority.
·    Install water saving shower heads and low flow faucet aerators.
·    Avoid over flowing of underground and overhead water tanks.
·    Use spray nozzle for washing cars. Use of waterless car washing system is better preferred.

We have abundance of water resources, what we need is to utilize it properly. We must think about thirst stricken of desert before wasting a single glass of it. Water is a precious gift of nature. Drink plenty, but don’t waste a little.