Understanding Identification and Utilization of Hill Torrents of Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan at hand is facing numerous problems ranging from self sufficiency in food for socio economic amelioration, poverty to combating environmental degradation and securing sustainable development. These can be resolved through conservation and utilization of available water resources. Pakistan has already utilized major part of its conventional resources while concerted efforts are required to conserve and develop unexplored resources. There are about 14 major hill torrents in Pakistan with an average annual run-off of 12.15 MAF. Hill torrents encompass a total of 65 percent of land that can be irrigated by it if they are rightly exploited. We need to develop a water management plan whereby the annual rains, falling on the hills and the plains, can be stored in strings of inter-connected reservoirs controlled through locks and canals. By the flood management of hill torrents in Pakistan we can not only reduce the floods but also water can be stored for irrigation and power generation purposes