If immediate measures not taken then country may dry up by 2025: CJ

ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (APP):Chief Justice Main Saqib Nisar said Pakistan may run dry by 2025 if the present conditions continued and immediate measures were not taken to solve the problems that contribute to water scarcity.
The Chief Justice expressed his views in an inaugural session of two-day International Symposium on the theme ” Creating a Water-Secure Pakistan”.
The President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Hussain Alvi was the chief guest at the event, whereas judges of superior courts, diplomats, foreign experts and politicians also participated the dignified session.
Justice Nisar said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan, as one of the three pillars of the state, is under a duty to serve the country and its people. The greatest duty that a government owes its people, is the duty to protect their right to life as contained in Article 9 of our Constitution and in various International Covenants, the Chief Justice maintained.
He said that it is well known that human beings can survive longer without food than without water, subject to varying weather conditions. Animals, plants and even the smallest of organisms require water.
However, our nation now faces a water crisis. According to the World Resources Institute, Pakistan will rank 23rd out of the top 33 most water-stressed countries by 2040, he added.
He said the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources has opined that Pakistan may run dry by 2025 if the present conditions continued.
While highlighting alarming situation, the Chief Justice said, “The compounding evidence of the urgency of the situation is the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which has been hailed by the scientific community as the final call to action”. If the global temperature increases by merely two degrees celsius by 2100, we can expect to face resource shortages, famines, droughts, natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, increased spread of diseases, damage to delicate ecosystems, and an increased rate of glacial melting, the Chief Justice said. Flooding and droughts are increasing risks if the river system is not effectively managed or restrained, he warned.
He said that the Supreme Court has recently passed a judgment in which we highlighted the risks posed by water scarcity and its security and directed the executive to take all the necessary steps to commence construction of the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hold this Symposium with the Law & Justice Commission, albeit in the midst of unprecedented water crisis affecting not only Pakistan, but also other countries of the world.
Justice nisar added that our aim is to summarize expert knowledge and experience in water resources management. And we also intend to consider new ideas, approaches and methodologies to find a concrete solution to ensure water security for Pakistan.
However, it is my hope that through the course of this Symposium, we are able to come up with a concrete and practical road map for Pakistan’s program of building water storage and infrastructure across the Indus Basin and for financing such programs, the Chief Justice expressed. Let us put first things first and realize the worth of water so that we, as a nation, can solve Pakistan’s water problems, he added.