HUMANITY now consumes natural resources 1.75 times faster than Earth can regenerate, with water scarcity emerging as the defining crisis of our era.
By 2050, global water consumption is expected to rise by 55% due to population growth, industrial expansion and intensifying climate disruptions. For Pakistan—already one of the most water-stressed countries—the stakes are perilously high. With per capita water availability now plummeting to just 860 cubic meters, far below the 1,000 cubic meter threshold that defines water scarcity, the country faces a dire triad: collapsing food systems, economic vulnerability and looming ecological disaster.
Paradoxically, Pakistan experiences both extremes—devastating floods and persistent water shortages. The 2022 monsoon floods inundated a third of the country, displacing 33 million people and wiping out 4.4 million acres of crops. Yet, even as rivers overflowed, the Indus Basin, which sustains 90% of Pakistan’s agriculture, continued to suffer from chronic water stress. Glaciers in the north are retreating, rainfall patterns are becoming erratic and groundwater is being recklessly overexploited. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, wheat farmers report yield declines of 20–30% over the last decade, while urban centres like Peshawar battle toxic groundwater and increasingly lethal heatwaves.
Pakistan must fundamentally redefine its relationship with water to avert a catastrophe through bold, systemic transformation. The crisis is not simply one of quantity, but of justice and governance. Water access is deeply inequitable. Rural women in KP spend up to three hours daily fetching water, while affluent urban neighborhoods enjoy an uninterrupted supply. Policies continue to favour influential agri-businesses growing water-intensive crops like sugarcane and rice, which consume over half of irrigation water yet contribute little to national nutrition. These subsidies should be redirected to support smallholders using sustainable techniques, such as drip irrigation and cultivation of nutrient-rich, drought-tolerant crops like millet. Progressive legislation, such as tiered pricing systems offering free minimum allotments for the poor and higher charges for excessive use, can balance equity and conservation.
Geographical diversity demands context specific solutions. Pakistan’s hydrological systems span from glacial rivers in Gilgit-Baltistan to coastal mangroves in Sindh. Reviving ancient water systems, such as the Karez—underground channels that sustained communities for centuries—can rejuvenate up to 500,000 acres of barren land in Balochistan and KP. Yet nearly 70% of these have been abandoned due to neglect and unregulated groundwater drilling. Critical watersheds, including the Swat River Basin, must be legally protected from industrial discharge. Rainwater harvesting and smart metering can curb further depletion.
Urban areas, which account for over 70% of global water waste, must evolve into circular ecosystems. Lahore’s Ravi River, now a toxic conduit of untreated industrial effluent, is a grim testament to policy failure. Yet there are beacons of hope. Islamabad’s pilot green-roof projects have reduced municipal water demand by 15%, while Karachi has the potential to convert sewage into biogas, which could supply 20% of its energy needs. New housing and industrial developments should be mandated to include greywater recycling systems and resource-efficient infrastructure. Women, who disproportionately bear the burden of water scarcity, remain largely excluded from decision-making in Pakistan’s water sector, holding just 5% of leadership roles. This is not only unjust—it is counterproductive. Gender-inclusive governance must become a national priority, with at least 30% representation for women in all water-related policy bodies and expanded scholarships for future female water managers.
Scientific innovation must be matched by political will. While Pakistani researchers are at the forefront of hydrological modeling, revealing, for example, that 80% of Lahore’s aquifers are contaminated, implementation lags dangerously. In KP, Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensors deployed in partnership with LUMS University boosted crop yields by 18% by optimizing irrigation. In Sindh, mosque loudspeakers have effectively promoted water conservation, increasing compliance by 25%. These successful pilots must now be scaled through public-private partnerships and supported by laws mandating water-efficient practices across industries.
Institutional accountability remains the missing link. Despite the scale of the 2022 flood disaster, which was exacerbated by illegal construction and fragile infrastructure, reconstruction has focused more on roads than on watershed rehabilitation. Pakistan allocates less than 1% of its GDP to water infrastructure—far short of the 5% recommended by the World Bank. A National Water Commission must be established with the authority to resolve interprovincial conflicts, while budgets for key initiatives like the Indus River Rejuvenation Initiative should be made publicly accessible. Industries polluting waterways must face substantial fines, with revenues channeled into water treatment facilities.
Ultimately, safeguarding Pakistan’s water future is a collective responsibility. Farmers must adopt drought-resilient crops; industries must close the loop on water use and citizens must fix domestic leaks and rethink everyday consumption. Water scarcity is not a natural calamity—it is the consequence of policy inertia and systemic mismanagement. By fusing ancestral wisdom with technological innovation, Pakistan can still reclaim its hydrological heritage. As the old proverb warns, “We never know the value of water until the well runs dry.” That moment is fast approaching. The time to act see is now.
—The writer is Deputy Director, Climate Change Centre, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar.
(haroonkhan@aup.edu.pk)
