DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT Intro: Pakistan's major mountain systems - the Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindukush, Suleman, Kirthar, central Balochistan, and Mekran ranges, form the important watersheds in the country. However, the dependable watersheds are located in the northern parts of the country and are regular source of the water supply to the Indus River system. These include watersheds of Northern Areas, NWFR, the mountain areas of Punjab, and AJK covering about 24.5 million hectares of upper Indus River and its tributaries. The watersheds of Indus water basin are the life-line for people of Pakistan. The rivers and streams sprung from these watersheds irrigate farmlands in the plains and provide drinking water to the millions of people. The majority of upland watersheds suffer from varying degrees of soil erosion and land degradation mainly due to high rate of deforestation, inadequate soil conservation measures, poor agriculture terracing, intensive agricultural activities, over-grazing, complex land tenure, and prevailing poverty in the mountain regions. As a result of water erosion top soil is being washed away into rivers, streams and water reservoirs, which are the main source of irrigation water and hydropower. The consequences of degradation of upland watersheds are severe, including annual loss of million tones of fertile soil due to soil erosion, sedimentation of Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs, reduced hydropower generation, devastation floods, desertification, decline in agriculture productivity, loss of biodiversity and increase in environmental pollution. Reduced supply of irrigation water coupled with inadequate ground water recharge in dry and semi-arid regions is threatening agriculture productions and food security of Pakistan.