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Critical Challenges• It seems efforts have beenshelved for now to assess theground water potential ofKarachi – e.g. recharging theaquifers in the Malir river basinby setting up infiltrationbasins/check dams to facilitaterain water storage/harvestingand recharging of aquifers• A major hindrance is the absenceof a ground water usepolicy in Pakistan – Karachi cantake the lead in this regard byformulating a ‘ground wateruse policy for Karachi!• Lack of focus on promotingconservation and recyclingpractices to reduce stress onavailable fresh water resources• Funding constraints to rehabilitatedecaying urban water supplyinfrastructureclearly evident that the groundwater resources of the Tuang Valleyin the Park were already overdeveloped.End noteThe probability of a drought affectingKarachi would depend uponhow much rain falls, how long areperiods of reduced rainfall, and howsensitive the supply-demand balancefor the various service areas isto drought. Ideally, based on suchan analysis the water serviceprovider could divide its supply areainto smaller water resource zones,which are defined on the basis ofwater supply connectivity. Such estimationfor us does not exist. Howeverfor us, a critical realizationshould be that a drought scenariowill not bring a crisis, it may aggravatean already existing crisis. Thereis a need for the KW&SB to move ona number of fronts. There is an urgentneed to reduce the loss ofwater through leakage managementthat can happen within the contextof a larger initiative to rehabilitatethe decaying infrastructure and preventtheft. Water efficiency can beimproved through introducing watermetering that can lead to proper estimationof demand and developmentof related trends influctuations in uses and also identifyingthe more water stressed areas.There is a need to promote waterconservation practices both at theservice provider and the consumerlevel. There is huge water efficiencypotential in using reclaimed waterfor non-potable uses. The focuspresently is directed mostly on augmentingwater supply (e.g. focus onK-IV project to bring 100 mgd morewater for Karachi for the Indus riversource). Though an option in itself,it can only provide optimal benefitsif other factors mainly at the distributionlevel that are hindering efficiencyin water supply and usageare tackled on an urgent basis simultaneously,if not with a greaterpriority. However, for all this to happen,the water utility needs to be financiallyviable to begin with. A politicalwill for holistic institutional reformsbacked by relevant policy andadministrative interventions are theonly way to address this challenge.Within the context of the rural agrourbansector in Karachi, there is anurgent need to protect and replenishthe ground water resourcesthrough relevant policy and projectbased interventions in addition tolooking at promoting judicious useof the water resources. This canhappen within a larger frameworkof protecting the threatened landuse of the rural hinterland and developinga new vision of this landmass and related economy as a viableand sustainable source of providingfood security for Karachi andalso acting as a barrier to the unplanned,unregulated and unsustainableurban sprawl.ExtrEmE hEAtEVENtSHeat waves are typically defined asextended periods of hotter than averagetemperatures, although theprecise timing and temperature differentialvaries regionally. Withinthe context of extreme heat events,the following focus areas are beingconsidered.• Urban Heat Island Effect (naturaland anthropogenic factors)• Increasing water usage41
Section 2: Understanding the ImpactsThere is a lack of specificity in thedefinition of an extreme heat eventor heat wave due to the importanceof local acclimatization to climate,which varies geographically. Previousresearch shows that populationsin different locations havevarying abilities to deal with temperatureextremes. For example,studies in Phoenix (US) have foundno statistically significant relationshipbetween mortality rates andhigh temperatures below 43°C,while in Boston (US), an increase inthe rates of mortality is observed at32°C. 22Extreme heat Events -possible Impacts• The ‘Urban Heat Island’ effect• Increasing water usage• Increasing energy demand forcooling – air conditioning• Increased ‘load shedding’• Heat related illness and deaths• Damage to temperature relatedinfrastructure (such aselectrical systems and transportnetworks)There can be several explanationsfor these variable responses. If extremelyhigh temperatures occur atinfrequent intervals then the residentsmay not have the proper levelof preparedness to cope with suddenvariations. Housing structureshave a role to play as in placeswhere cold weather is more of anorm,most homes are built fromDeclining publichealthPublicdiscontent andpossibleconflictLost publicrecreationalamenitiesFinancial stressinfrastructurerepair and healthcostsPossible migration –farming communitiesFig. 31karachi CityCascading Consequences for ‘Drought’ and reduced rainfallConsumers shift to more costlyand possibly hazardousoptions and prioritizeusePossible water riotsIncreased stresson Indus watersourceServicesdisturbed due toinfrastructuredamageBio-diversity lossReduced urban watersupply (Hub Source)Stressed ecosystems(E.g. Khirthar) angreen spacesInfrastructure damage(E.g. water &sanitation)Reduced groundwater replenishmentAdverse impacts on farmingsector and associated livelihoodsDroughtheat-retaining materials and fewhomes have central air conditioning.As a result, during extreme heatevents, ambient air temperature insidesuch homes can be dangerouslyhigh. As a result of climate change,extreme heat events are predictedto become more frequent, intenseand longer lasting over most landareas. In the case of Pakistan generallyand In Karachi particularly, temperaturelevels are expected to rise.In Karachi, generally summers arehot and prolonged and temperaturesin excess of 30 0 C are quite thenorm. During the Study,no suchdata could be located which couldindicate deaths due to sustainedmore than average heat waves – sayin excess of 40 0 C.22Global report on human settlements 2011,United Nations Human Settlements Programme42
Page 3 and 4: 334Antonio A. Arce © UB-TAH Projec
Page 5 and 6: ContentsForEworD 06ACkNowlEDgEmENt
Page 7 and 8: ForewordThe issue of climate change
Page 9 and 10: AcknowledgementThe preparation of t
Page 11 and 12: IntroductionFig. 2the ‘Additional
Page 13 and 14: Introductionregionurban population(
Page 15 and 16: Introductionthe Study - objectives
Page 17: Section 1: Karachi City - Context f
Page 20 and 21: Over the past years cyclones tend t
Page 22 and 23: Temperatures/Precipitation/Wet Days
Page 24 and 25: works, encroachments andgarbage dum
Page 26 and 27: Flooding - possible Impacts• Loss
Page 28 and 29: people - An idea of the scale ofthe
Page 30 and 31: Arabian seak A r A C h IF l o o D Z
Page 32 and 33: lances.An overwhelming 96% of thedo
Page 34 and 35: Fig. 22Vanishing green Spaces1986 2
Page 36 and 37: The focus has been to take either a
Page 38 and 39: With the phenomenal increase inpopu
Page 40 and 41: federal and provincial governments.
Page 44 and 45: urban heat island effectUrban settl
Page 46 and 47: AResolution was passed in a Seminar
Page 48 and 49: While regularly updated data on veh
Page 50 and 51: Increasing energy demandMohammad Ar
Page 52 and 53: Fig. 38- karachi City -Cascading Co
Page 54 and 55: The National Institute of Oceanogra
Page 56 and 57: The Karachi harbor - a critical nat
Page 58 and 59: dence to suggest that as mangrovesa
Page 60 and 61: Storm surge wave• It would start
Page 62 and 63: Over the long term, non-structuralm
Page 64 and 65: managing the ImpactsFlooding Drough
Page 66 and 67: ings us to the fundamental challeng

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