The Dilemma of Dams to Manage Floods in Pakistan: An Analysis from the Landscapes of National Security

Abstract

The study aims at exploring the causes of floods, the role of dams to manage floods, the destruction
caused by them, ways and means to save surface and groundwater for national security. Due to
rapid climatic changes, the phenomenon of floods is likely to increase in the future posing a bigger
threat to life and property. This research finds out that due to the non-existence of an effective
water strategy, a huge amount of water is allowed to run into the Arabian Sea unused. Findings
suggest that due to the worst water management, the country’s underground water resources are
fast depleting. This study makes the point that due to acute shortage of water reservoirs, in the near
future challenges will trap the country into a dilemma of food security, energy security, water
security, human security, and above all national security. The research is deductive and has used a
qualitative approach to collect the data to assess the shortcomings in the existing infrastructure of
reservoir management and interlinks with national security.