20000214

Need stressed

for research in

water resources

in arid zone

ISLAMABAD: The participants of regional workshop on arid zone hydrology underlined the need of extensive research to discover cheap methods of water storage in arid zone for the economic development of the country.

The workshop was organised by Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) in collaboration with Unesco.

The purpose of this workshop was to share ideas, knowledge and experiences and discuss important problems and alternative measures for sustainable use of land and water resources in the arid regions.

In his inaugural address, Javaid Masud called for constant research in order to discover cheap methods of water storage, reducing evaporation, distilling sea water, artificially recharging natural ground water reservoirs and eradication of salt in irrigation supplies from underground sources for the economic development of Pakistan.

He said water scarcity will be a major threat in the 21st century as according to various studies nearly one third of the world's population ÑÊabout 2.7 billion people will experience severe water shortage within the next 25 years.

"Water scarcity is the single greatest threat to human health, environment and global food supply. It also threatens global peace as countries in Asia and Middle East seek to cope with shortages. Water scarcity already is a major destabilising force within countries because different sectors of economy are vying for scarce water resources," he added.

The science and Technology secretary said Pakistan was mostly an arid country with very high temperatures in the central and southern parts during summer.

He said: "In Pakistan about 80 percent of the total land area of 79.61 million hectare or about 25 percent of them cultivated hectarage of 20.44 is rainfed. The bulk of these rainfed areas consist of arid and semi-arid lands."

He said that pressure brought upon to feed more people have increased the significance of food production in the arid and semi-arid regions of Pakistan.

He thanked the Unesco for its cooperation with the PCRWR for holding this important workshop.ÑAPP