By Arsalan Ali ISLAMABAD, May 20 (INP WealthPK): Eco changes impact on biodiversity, the agricultural sector, water resources as well as human life and pose significant challenges to sustainable development. In an exclusive talk with WealthPK, Dr. Akbar Khan, research officer at the Water Management and High Efficiency, said eco changes affect major aspects of life. Owing to the erratic monsoon rains, droughts in Sindh and Balochistan have become more frequent and climate change is one of the primary causes of this devastation, he added. ‘’Drought causes vulnerable conditions in deserts, and Thar is one of them where a catastrophic drought has led to hunger and thirst. Pakistan's southern parts heavily rely on monsoon rains, but climate change has disturbed their pattern. Agriculture productivity has declined in Sindh due to water shortage,’’ he added. Akbar said biodiversity in such regions was also on the verge of extinction, as in Tharparker the number of vultures and peacocks was declining every year. ‘’This catastrophe has caused many problems to emerge. Since Thar has rainfed limited cultivation, in dried conditions people there die of hunger and thirst. In such vulnerable conditions, they feel compelled to leave their handmade huts and migrate to the barrage areas for better fodder and water for their domestic animals. When Thar does not receive rain from mid-May to mid-September, drought appears there.’’ Dr. Akbar said drought was hazardous, particularly for the livestock. Thatta, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, and Sujawal are the most affected areas due to water scarcity, he remarked. He said Sindh had been water-scarce for the last 20 years due to severe climatic conditions and the female family members had to cover miles in search of water for their families and animals. Water scarcity in Pakistan is largely due to population growth combined with climate change, which exacerbates floods and droughts, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). Akbar said water scarcity was also due to poor water management in the agricultural sector, old or inefficient infrastructure, and widespread water pollution problems. ‘’Pakistan needs to take a series of measures to address the water crisis. The entire leadership and relevant stakeholders must face this challenge and declare their intent to address it. Dams should be built as soon as possible to meet the growing demand. We need to fill the gap between policies, reforms, and their implementation by drafting a detailed implementation plan. Policymakers must reconsider water policy by encouraging wastewater recycling.’’ Akbar said the ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’ and ‘Green Pakistan’ projects had played a major role in fostering an environment-friendly and sustainable lifestyle.