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Challenges and Prospects of Sustainable Groundwater Management in the Indus Basin, Pakistan
Abstract
In Pakistan, on-demand availability of groundwater has transformed the concept of
low and uncertain crop yields into more assured crop production. Increased crop yields
has resulted in food security and improved rural livelihoods. However, this growth
has also led to problems of overdraft, falling water tables and degradation of groundwater
quality, and yields generally remain well below potential levels. Over the last three
decades, Pakistan has tried several direct and indirect management strategies for
groundwater management. However the success has been limited. This paper argues that
techno-institutional approaches such as introducing water rights, direct or indirect
pricing and permit systems are fraught with difficulties in Pakistan due to its high
population density and multitude of tiny users. Therefore there is a need to develop
frameworks and management tools that are best suited to Pakistani needs. Pakistan
should follow both supply and demand management approaches. For demand management,
adoption of water conservation technologies, revision of existing cropping patterns
and exploration of alternate water resources should be encouraged. For supply management,
implementation of the groundwater regulatory frameworks developed by Provincial Irrigation
and Drainage Authorities (PIDAs) and introduction of institutional reforms to enhance
effective coordination between different organizations responsible for the management
of groundwater resources should be given priority.
Type
Journal articleSubject
Groundwater managementPakistan
Institutional reforms
Groundwater development
Regulatory framework
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/5967Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1007/s11269-009-9513-3Citation
Qureshi, A., P. McCornick, et al. (2010). "Challenges and Prospects of Sustainable
Groundwater Management in the Indus Basin, Pakistan." Water Resources Management 24(8):
1551-1569.
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