GLOBAL WARMING AND QUETTA CITY

 M. ASGHAR
CLIMATE has changed globally. Cold areas are getting warmer and hot areas are getting hotter. These harsh climatic condition will become even more extreme in the coming decades. Last year, hundreds of people died around the world due to extreme weather conditions. The effects of climate change can also be felt in Pakistan, as summer has become unacceptable. In Balochistan, Quetta was once a city of orchards known for its beauty and pleasant climate where mountains used to be covered by snow in every season but now it has turned in to concrete Jungle. Today its temperature has crossed 40 C (degree centigrade) and still rising with time. As a result, successive governments have done nothing to control or ameliorate the worsening climate change. There seems to be no law to restrict deforestation and access use of fossils fuel. The ruthless cutting of trees have deteriorated the climate. The Quetta city already faces severe water shortage in several areas and the problems is getting worse every decade. The underground water level is rapidly going down and has almost dropped down to 1000 meters. It is estimated that water table in Quetta city is declining at an average rate of 4-5 feet per year. If this continues for some more years, drinking water will note be available to people of Quetta city. forcing them to migrate. Hence more and more problems will crop up for people in future. The government of Balochistan must take some concrete steps to prevent deforestation and access use of fossils fuel and promote awareness among citizen through seminars and bill boards. In the coming season the government must ensure plantation of trees on roadsides, deserted ground and in every space possible. This is the only way the Government can, to some extent, prevent climate change and make the city livable