LHC blasts PDMA for failing to address water crisis

LAHORE: Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court (LHC) presided over the hearings on petitions against smog and environmental pollution today.

“If there is no snowfall this year too, then this is an alarming situation,” Justice Karim said.

The LHC said that the government should “immediately declare a water emergency”, to stop wastage of water and to conserve the essential resource. Justice Karim expressed annoyance at the usage of water to wash the LHC’s courtyard using water pipes. “The groundwater level is decreasing,” he said while highlighting the dire situation of worsening water scarcity in the country.

The LHC issued orders that all houses of 10 marla (approx. 250 yards) or above will be built with a water recycling plant.

The court also expressed anger at the lack of initiative and action by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). “Where is the Director of PDMA? Shouldn’t PDMA have taken notice?” Justice Karim said, adding, “Shut down PDMA if it has done nothing.”

Justice Karim said “PDMA does nothing on its own. If all work has to be done by the court or the commission, then shut down PDMA.”

The LHC also issued orders to focus on big schools and start working with them to ensure water conservation, and reduce wastage.

According to some UN data estimates, Pakistan is expected to become water scarce by 2035. The climate change is already hitting home, with 2025 winter drought ravaging crops all across Punjab.

Senators Sherry Rehman, Dinesh Kumar, and Irfan Siddiqui also highlighted the water division crisis across the country in Senate’s session earlier this week. An adjournment motion was also presented in the session regarding the construction of barrage dams for commercial commodity farming on the Indus River. The senators were of the opinion that large portions of land in the country can be made fertile by ensuring supply of water.

Also read: Senators dive deep into water division debate