Only 6.45 percent of the domestic wastewater of the city was being treated that needs to be enhanced by making collective efforts.

Only 6.45 percent of the domestic wastewater of the city was being treated that needs to be enhanced by making collective efforts. It was echoed at a seminar held in connection with World Water Day World at New Senate Hall. Chairing the session, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that we were facing numerous challenges in term of water issue amid climate changes. He viewed that one of the major socioeconomic challenges was the mismanagement of water resources. He said that there is no life without water as the water is key for irrigation, food insecurity, economic growth, energy production, industries and human health. He said time is ripe for promoting the rational use of water across the country to save coming generation. He added we are not treating industrial waste that was causing the deteriorating situation. He said that heavy water was being pumped out from tube-wells that is the responsible for lowing down the groundwater level and worsen water health. He also suggesting pricing water for general public in order to ensure its optimized use. Managing Director Water and Sanitation Agency Zahid Aziz said the city master plan study for next 20 years being undertaken by JICA under Technical Cooperation He called for the construction of more treatment plants to cover all wastewater of the city as expected to be proposed in master plan study. He said that Singapore, Australia and Namibia, and US states such as California, Virginia and New Mexico are already drinking recycled water. He revealed that nearly all small towns in Western Australia and many throughout Australia recycle 100% of their wastewater. In Singapore 30 % drinking water comes from recycled wastewater He stressed upon the need to conduct research including differentiation between inorganic and organic arsenic; modeling for forecasting arsenic in groundwater; effects of arsenic irrigation water on crops; and waste water treatment through low cost-low land use technology. He said the use of recycled water in horticulture and industry, as well as in residential areas has grown considerably over the past decade. Purified wastewater can be safe and clean, and help ease water shortages. Total wastewater is 310 mgd including 200 million gallon per day (mgd) industrial wastewater and 110 mgd wastewater domestic out of which only 20 mgd is being treated. He said that vast majority of all the wastewater from our homes, cities, industry and agriculture flows back to nature without being treated or reused – polluting the environment, and losing valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials. Dean Allah Buksh said that per capita water availability has reduced to 900 cubic meter which was 5000 cubic meter at the time of participation. He said that climate changes were smashing the agronomic pattern of the country. He said that joint efforts on the part of researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders are need of the hour. He said that we need to promote the drip irrigation for the rational usage of the water. Dr Jahanzeb Chema said that there is the need to promote the high efficient irrigation methods. The country was blessed with the tremendous resources. There is a need to rational usage of the it. Dr Hamid Shah called for creating the awareness among the masses about water rational usage. Japanese Engineer Harutoshi Uchida, Sohail Naqvi from WWF, Lecturer Haroon Rashid and progressive farmer Manzoor Thakar also spoke on the occasion.