Muhammad Aslam Tahir, Director
Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the ninth most populous country of the world (140
millions in July, 1999) having an area of 802,900 Sq. Km (310,000 Sq. Miles)
is located between 23o and 37o degrees north latitude
and 61o and 76o degrees east longitude flanked by Iran
and land-locked Afghanistan in the west and Central Asia republics and China
in the North. Pakistan is blessed with plenty of natural resources with water
as the most imperative one as it has always played a vital role in the economic
development of Pakistan and is likely to continue as such in the future. Pakistan
with 2053 m3 per person, rank eighth in per capita fresh water
withdrawal among the 130 countries listed in the World Development Report,
1995. Out of total developed water resources of the country, agriculture sector
is the major user of water (96%) followed by domestic (3%) and industrial
sectors (1%). However, water scarcity is due to rapid population growth (2.6%
per annum), increased urbanization and industrialization, mismanagement in
development and use of water resources for various purposes as well as extended
drought. The water shortage and increasing competition for multiple uses of
water adversely affected the quality of water. Therefore, the water quality
of both surface and groundwater has been identified as one of the water resource
issues in Pakistan. In the backdrop of this situation, UNICEF has reported
that out of total, 40% diseases (NCSS, 2003) prevalent in the country are
waterborne and 20-40% hospitalizations are due to such diseases. In addition
poor access of citizens to safe drinking water is one of the major reasons
for unbridled rise in poverty due to the high cost of illnesses and loss of
working days occurring due to water-born diseases. Considering the emerging
problems from the inadequate access of population to safe drinking water is
only 60% (UN Commission on Sustainable Development 30th April, 2004). Pakistan
Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has initiated a mega project
entitled gNational Water Quality Monitoring Program (NWQMP)h with total cost
of Rs. 39.66 millions for a period of five years
(2001-2006). The said water quality monitoring program is designed including
23 cities, 6 rivers, 5 dams, 2 reservoirs, 3 lakes and 2 major drains to meet
the monitoring requirement and objectives of the project. Based on the grid
sizes for big cities (4x4 and 5x5 km), medium cities (2x2 and 3x3 km) and
small cities (1x1 km), permanent points one per grid were selected for the
pre-monsoon collection of four types of samples from each point for monitoring
purpose. Methodology for collection, preservation and transportation of monitoring
and quality control samples as well as laboratory analyses was adopted according
to recommendations of standard methods (American public Health Association,
American Water Works Association and Water environment Federation, 1992).
All the water samples were analyzed in PCRWR water quality laboratories for
26 physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters
in Phase-I and 79 parameters in the rest of the completed phases (i.e. II
and III). In general, surface and groundwater were found in few cases with
the trivial problems of exceeded turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, sodium,
iron, fluoride, sulfate, TDS and potassium than WHO guideline values. However,
on the basis of overall findings, water resources of Pakistan are facing the
four major water quality tribulations such as bacteriological contamination
(28-100%), arsenic (0-100%), nitrate (0-50%) and fluoride (0-55%) in all the
four completed phases (2001-2005). NWQMP has not only provided the base line
to establish permanent water quality monitoring network for monitoring the
water quality variations and groundwater levels but also resulted in the initiation
of various other water quality monitoring and surveillance research activities.
Moreover, water quality data bases generated through NWQMP was established
in the form of website (www.pcrwr.gov.pk). Disclosure of
water quality status as a result of NWQMP at the platform of higher government
authorities to lower tiers has highly sensitized the implementing agencies
to take relevant rectification measures to resolve the water quality problems
at the local as well as national level. Researchers, policy makers and planners
are well utilizing the water quality data of Pakistan for the future plans
and also resulted in provision of clean and safe drinking water to citizens
as a top priority in the development agenda of the government as well as first
National Water Policy envisaging the whole water issue, strategies, conservation
and institutional reforms.