What can be worse for a nation whose country ranks 14 out of 17 countries facing extremely high water risks, yet whose policymakers have no clue about this depletion? Without water, there can be no life. It would be nothing short of revolutionary if policymakers paid heed to water scarcity. John F. Kennedy argued, “Anyone who can solve the problem of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes—one for peace and the other for science.” Storage capacity, groundwater depletion, population surge, agricultural inefficiency, climate change, and weak governance within provinces and across the border signal that water scarcity is not just an environmental issue; it is a human survival crisis. To address hydro vulnerability, Pakistan must invest in storage expansion, water extraction management, population control, and irrigation efficiency.
One of the primary drivers of water scarcity in Pakistan is storage capacity. The current water storage is only about 30 days, while the international benchmark measures it at 120 days. Adding to this, Pakistan stores only 10 percent of its annual river flow, whereas the global average is 40 percent. With these statistics, the country may reach absolute water scarcity.
Equally important is the over-extraction of groundwater. Groundwater is an essential source that meets water needs for irrigation, industrial, and domestic use. Data show that 50 to 55 MAF of water is pumped out of the ground every year. This unsustainable extraction exceeds natural recharge, therefore causing depletion.
Rapid population growth and unplanned urbanisation increase water withdrawal. Pakistan’s population is equivalent to 3.10 percent of the total world population. Uncontrolled population growth is not only a burden on water resources, it also puts a strain on the economy, environment, and governance structure, and hinders sustainable development.
The situation is further worsened by agricultural inefficiency. The agricultural mindset is still outdated. For instance, the flood irrigation method, cultivation of water-thirsty crops, and overuse of water strain Pakistan’s water resources. Agriculture consumes 94 percent of water withdrawal but contributes 23 percent of GDP, and it works with 39 percent inefficiency. Also, flood irrigation wastes 61 percent of water through seepage and evaporation. Such inefficient practices result in significant water wastage.
Water scarcity is not just an environmental issue; it is a matter of national security
Another key cause that cannot be overlooked is climate change. Changes in monsoon patterns, rising temperatures, frequent droughts, and the recurrence of floods compound the crisis. Changes in monsoon patterns deplete reservoirs and aquifers. Rising temperatures intensify evaporation from water reservoirs. The melting of glaciers threatens future river water flow. And floods are thought to bring more water, but they strain water resources in the long term. Floods often result in sedimentation, reduce groundwater recharge, and a huge volume of water pours into the Arabian Sea. Thus, Pakistan’s water crisis is also climatic in nature.
Apart from administrative and geophysical constraints, weak water governance within provinces and across borders has worsened water security. It thus transforms the water issue into political and diplomatic disputes.
At the domestic level, all the provinces are at loggerheads. Weak coordination and mistrust among provinces over water sharing cripple equitable distribution. For years, the construction of the Kalabagh Dam was disputed among provinces. Most importantly, the recent canal projects reflect deep discord. At the transboundary level, Pakistan locks horns with India and Afghanistan. After an intense clash, India has held the treaty in abeyance, which will have long-term repercussions. Similarly, there is no formal water-sharing formula with Afghanistan, especially on the Kabul River. Both political and diplomatic issues complicate water security further.
Water scarcity is not just an environmental issue; it is a matter of national security. The solutions are within reach. Storage expansion must be the primary objective. In our country, the culture of rainwater harvesting is minimal. Therefore, the country needs to promote the construction of small dams across the country. Sustainable water extraction should be promoted to keep the wells wet.
Rapid population growth is putting stress on reservoirs and groundwater. Slower population growth means sustainable extraction of dams, rivers, and underground aquifers. Therefore, controlling population growth today prevents severe water shortages tomorrow. Lack of modern agricultural techniques keeps water use inefficient. Agricultural inefficiency fosters water scarcity. It can be solved by adopting modern irrigation techniques, which involve drip irrigation, lined canals, and water-efficient crops.
In the end, water scarcity in Pakistan is an urgent national threat. Only a mix of efficient water management, modern technological adoption, and responsible public behaviour can secure our future water needs. Thus, the choices we make today will decide Pakistan’s water future.