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Land use and land cover (LULC) change is a major driver of environmental change in District Bahawalnagar, Punjab. LULC change can lead to changes in soil quality, water availability, and climate, all of which can affect crop yields. LULC change can also lead to the loss of agricultural land, forest land, water bodies, and an increment in urban land that causes climate change and affects the agricultural sector. The study area showed that in the last thirty years, the population increased, built-up land increased, and agricultural land dropped by 30%. The present status of knowledge is reviewed in this paper on the impact of LULC on agricultural production in District Bahawalnagar. The conversion of agricultural land to urban development in District Bahawalnagar has led to a decline in crop yields of an average of 10%. The production of wheat and rice, the two major crops grown in District Bahawalnagar, is influenced by LULC changes. This study also found that the loss of agricultural land has resulted in an increase in soil salinity, which has further reduced crop yields. The detrimental effects of LULC change on agricultural output in District Bahawalnagar can be mitigated by adopting sustainable land management practices. These practices include reforestation, conservation agriculture, and water conservation. The government of Pakistan can also play a role in mitigating the negative impacts of LULC change on agricultural production by developing and implementing land use plans that protect agricultural land from conversion to other uses. More research is required to fully comprehend the effects of LULC and develop effective management strategies. However, LULC is a major challenge that must be addressed if we are to ensure food security in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater scarcity is a global concern and is caused by the overuse of water, exceeding the sustainable level. In Pakistan, overpopulation, climate change alleviation, and economic development influence the asset of water. For water management, development, and conservation, policymakers need to formulate the right plans and projects. For this purpose, they need to evaluate the impact of different projects and plans and evaluate considerable data and information. Different tools are being adopted for integrated water resource management. Among them, WEAP is user-friendly, reliable, and efficient, and is used widely across the globe. It will aid the policymakers to develop suitable projects and plans. This study was carried out by using WEAP, in the Lower Bari Doab Canal command area (LBDC), Punjab, Pakistan. This study sheds light on the current water allocation situation and simulated scenarios of population growth rates and economic growth to evaluate the future water demand situation. The results of the current account year (2015) show that the domestic water demand of Okara (101.51 MCM) and the agricultural water demand (1713 MCM) of Sahiwal was seen to be the maximum among the four districts. Unmet demand was found to be maximum for the districts laying in the tail end (Sahiwal and Khanewal). The results of the scenarios show that, if the current water consumption, population growth, and economic development continue, unmet demand will increase in the future, and if the population grows at a higher rate and economic development increases, it will result in higher unmet water demand in the coming years. WEAP was found to be a user-friendly and efficient model to better understand water demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]