World Water Day, observed by the United Nations on March 22 each year, highlights the vital importance of water for life and the urgency of addressing the global water crisis.
World Water Day, observed by the United Nations on March 22 each year, highlights the vital importance of water for life and the urgency of addressing the global water crisis.
Pakistan is facing an unprecedented water crisis, with the looming threat of drought worsening each year. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), total water availability in the country for the current year stands at 191 million acre-foot (MAF), whereas demand has surged to 274 MAF, resulting in a substantial shortfall of 83 MAF, or at least 30 per cent. Alarmingly, Pakistan ranks 14th among 17 countries experiencing extreme baseline water stress and is the third most vulnerable nation facing acute water shortages. If this trend continues, Pakistan is projected to reach an 'absolute water scarcity' level by 2035, as the water situation deteriorates with no comprehensive corrective measures in sight.
Despite the severity of the crisis, Pakistan has demonstrated little physical preparedness to counteract the impending catastrophe. Both past and present governments, at federal and provincial levels, have exhibited a lack of urgency and strategic vision in addressing the issue. The failure to implement timely interventions has allowed the situation to deteriorate, with particularly severe consequences for agriculture and water resources in Sindh, Balochistan, and South Punjab—regions that are especially vulnerable to drought and water shortages.
One of the primary drivers of increasing water demand is Pakistan’s rapidly growing population, coupled with unplanned urbanization. This has significantly increased water requirements across agriculture, industry, and energy sectors. Climate change further exacerbates the crisis, with Pakistan ranking as the fifth most vulnerable country worldwide. Rising global temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and glacial melt have severely impacted water availability. However, beyond climatic factors, weak policy frameworks, water mismanagement, and inefficient infrastructure have played a critical role in worsening the crisis.
Pakistan utilises over 90 per cent of its water resources for agriculture, compared to the global average of 70 per cent, making its surface water highly susceptible to depletion. Despite this, the country has been slow to adopt modern irrigation techniques such as gravity-fed drip systems, subsurface drip irrigation, and sprinkler systems, which are significantly more efficient. Consequently, Pakistan withdraws approximately 83 per cent of its total renewable freshwater resources annually, making it one of the most water-intensive countries globally.
Unsustainable groundwater extraction has also reached alarming levels, with around 50 MAF of water being withdrawn annually from underground aquifers -- exceeding the sustainable limit of safe yield. At the same time, Pakistan loses approximately 35 MAF of floodwater to the sea each year due to inadequate storage infrastructure.
Water storage capacity is another major concern. Pakistan can store water for only 30 days, whereas the international benchmark is 120 days. In contrast, India has a water storage capacity of 220 days. Currently, Pakistan’s dams have a live storage capacity of only 13.68 MAF, down from 16.26 MAF in 1976 due to sedimentation and inadequate maintenance. IMF reports indicate that Pakistan’s per capita annual water availability has declined from 1,500 cubic metres in 2009 to 1,017 cubic metres in 2021. As of today, per capita water availability has plummeted to a dangerously low 860 cubic metres and is projected to fall further to 500 cubic metres by 2040. Ironically, despite its severe water constraints, Pakistan has the fourth-highest rate of water consumption in the world, reflecting gross inefficiencies in water utilisation and conservation.
Pakistan’s major water reservoirs include Tarbela Dam, completed in 1976 with a gross/live storage capacity of 11.6/6.05 MAF, Mangla Dam, completed in 1967 and raised in 2009 to achieve a gross/live capacity of 14.0/7.28 MAF, and Chashma Barrage, completed in 1971. However, by August 2024, total water storage in these three key reservoirs was recorded at only 11.5 MAF, significantly lower than required. The normal flow of the Indus Basin has also reduced by over 40 per cent in recent years due to the impacts of climate change and India's construction of multiple dams on its side of the Pakistani rivers. This has led to noticeable declines in water levels at Tarbela and Mangla dams, compounding the crisis.
To combat the water crisis, Pakistan urgently needs large-scale water storage projects. A strategic plan formulated in the 1970s envisioned the construction of one mega dam per decade. However, despite five decades passing, not a single major dam was completed under this vision. The most glaring example of negligence is the shelving of the Kalabagh Dam project, which had a proposed storage capacity of 7.9 MAF and was widely regarded as one of the most feasible and beneficial projects for Pakistan. It was only in 2019-2020 that two major projects -- Mohmand Dam and Diamer-Basha Dam -- were finally initiated, with a combined gross storage capacity of 9.39 MAF and live storage of 7.07 MAF.
Mohmand Dam was originally scheduled for completion by December 2025 but has now been delayed until 2027. Similarly, the Diamer-Basha Dam, initially set for completion in August 2028, now has a revised timeline of December 2030, with its current physical progress standing at less than 20 per cent. Another crucial under-construction project, Dasu Dam, launched in 2014, will have a gross storage capacity of 8.1 MAF upon completion. Even if all these reservoirs are completed, Pakistan’s total water storage capacity will only increase to about 45 days -- far below the minimum recommended threshold of 120 days.
Addressing the water crisis is a key component of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which Pakistan adopted in 2015. Yet, progress remains disappointingly slow. An estimated 36-39 per cent of Pakistanis still lack access to safe and clean drinking water. The UN Sustainable Development Report 2024 ranks Pakistan 137th out of 166 nations, highlighting the limited advancements made in ensuring water security. In response to growing national and international concerns, the government announced the National Water Policy in 2018. However, its implementation has been weak and ineffective, failing to meet its intended targets.
Pakistan's water crisis is no longer just an environmental or economic issue; it is about survival. If urgent and effective measures are not taken, the country faces a bleak future. The most immediate and severe consequence will be a devastating food crisis, further threatening national economic security. The socio-political repercussions could be equally alarming, potentially fueling unrest and instability. Without a radical shift in water management policies, conservation strategies and infrastructure development, Pakistan’s water crisis will continue to escalate, putting millions at risk in the coming years.
An estimated 36-39 per cent of Pakistanis still lack access to safe and clean drinking water. The UN Sustainable Development Report 2024 ranks Pakistan 137th out of
166 nations, highlighting the limited advancements made in ensuring water security
The writer is a retired chairman of the State Engineering Corporation and former member (PT) of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
