WATER PROBLEM

Pakistan has become a 'water scarce country' as its water availability has declined to 800 cubic metre per person in 2000. This is way below the anticipated availability of 1400 cubic metre per person. There has been a 40 per cent fall in water availability, said Akram Kahlown, chairperson of Pakistan's Council For Research in Water Resources. He said that a National Monitoring Programme will be soon introduced in 20 big cities where 10-15 permanent points would be set up for taking bi-annual samples for inspection of water standards.