Water scarcity in Pakistan is no longer a looming threat; it is an unfolding crisis that requires urgent and innovative interventions. While much of the national discourse focuses on building large dams, experts warn that relying solely on reservoirs will not solve the deeper issues of inefficient use, urban overconsumption, and poor water governance. As Pakistan moves towards becoming one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, alternative solutions such as desalination, wastewater recycling, and modern irrigation techniques are emerging as critical tools. This editorial explores how Pakistan can shift from a dam-centric policy to a sustainable, multi-pronged water management strategy that prioritizes conservation, efficiency, and climate resilience.
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Water Crisis Threatening Pakistan
Water has always been central to Pakistan’s agrarian economy and urban expansion. With over 90% of water consumed by agriculture, and the rest stretched across domestic and industrial use, the country relies heavily on the Indus River and seasonal glacial melt. However, climate change, rapid population growth, and mismanagement have pushed Pakistan toward “Water scarcity” status, as defined by the United Nations. The melting of glaciers due to rising global temperatures threatens the seasonal availability of water, while erratic monsoon patterns are increasing the frequency of both floods and droughts.
According to the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), the country may run dry by 2025 if current trends continue. Urban areas like Karachi and Lahore already face daily water shortages, while rural communities struggle with declining groundwater tables. A study by IMF in 2023 ranked Pakistan among the top 10 most water-stressed countries globally, emphasizing that the crisis is not just an environmental issue but a national security challenge. The combination of population explosion, projected to reach 260 million by 2030, and rising demand for food and energy has placed unprecedented pressure on existing water resources. Without strategic reforms, Pakistan’s water insecurity threatens food production, public health, and economic stability.
Limitations of Traditional Solutions
For decades, the state has prioritized mega infrastructure projects like the Tarbela and Mangla Dams, which have contributed significantly to power generation and seasonal water storage. However, they are insufficient for addressing year-round supply, urban consumption, and water quality concerns. Dams also come with high costs, long construction delays, siltation issues, and displacement of communities, which often spark local resistance. For example, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, proposed decades ago, is still under construction due to financing hurdles and political disputes.
Moreover, dams cannot address non-conventional water challenges such as salinity, urban wastewater discharge, and inefficient irrigation practices. Experts argue that Pakistan loses nearly 40% of its stored water due to poor distribution systems and outdated canal infrastructure. Therefore, there is growing recognition that non-traditional solutions, like desalination plants, wastewater treatment, and drip irrigation, must form the backbone of Pakistan’s long-term water security framework. Countries like Israel and Australia, which face severe arid conditions, have shifted from reliance on reservoirs to innovative technologies, demonstrating that strategic diversification of water sources is essential.
Desalination Offers Hope for Coastal Urban Water Security
One of the most promising alternatives is desalination, the process of removing salts from seawater to make it usable for drinking and agriculture. Given that Pakistan has a 1,046 km coastline, particularly around Karachi and Gwadar, the potential for desalination is considerable. Cities like Karachi, which face chronic water shortages and are over-dependent on freshwater from the Indus River, could benefit greatly from such technology.
Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE meet over 60% of their urban water needs through desalination, while India’s city of Chennai successfully operates multiple desalination units to mitigate drought risks. Pakistan has experimented with this technology in Gwadar, where a China-funded desalination plant with 5 million gallons per day (MGD) capacity was inaugurated in 2022. Unfortunately, due to poor maintenance and lack of skilled workforce, several desalination projects in Karachi have either stalled or operated below capacity.
To make desalination viable, Pakistan must focus on solar-powered and energy-efficient plants to lower operational costs. Public-private partnerships could be leveraged to attract investment and expertise, while a national desalination policy should be introduced to regulate costs, environmental impacts, and distribution. If effectively implemented, desalination could meet up to 20% of Karachi’s water needs by 2030, reducing its overdependence on freshwater resources.
Wastewater Recycling Can Relieve Pressure on Freshwater Resources
Another underutilized resource in Pakistan is its urban and industrial wastewater, much of which flows untreated into rivers, lakes, and canals. This not only depletes freshwater supplies but also endangers public health through waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. According to a 2021 report by the World Bank, Pakistan treats less than 8% of its wastewater, compared to over 60% in developed nations.
Recycling wastewater for non-drinking purposes such as agriculture, sanitation, and industrial cooling can free up significant volumes of freshwater for domestic consumption. For example, Singapore’s NEWater program reclaims over 40% of the city’s water supply through advanced treatment, showcasing how urban recycling can ensure sustainability. Pakistan has taken initial steps, such as the Lahore Wastewater Treatment Project, supported by the Asian Development Bank, but its impact remains limited to specific industrial zones.
To scale this, the government must revise urban bylaws, make treatment technology affordable, and mandate water reuse in large industries like textiles and leather, which consume billions of gallons annually. Without such measures, cities will continue wasting freshwater for purposes that recycled water could easily meet.
Efficient Irrigation Systems Are Essential for Agricultural Sustainability
Agriculture consumes nearly 93% of Pakistan’s water, with most of it wasted through outdated flood irrigation techniques. In contrast, modern methods like drip and sprinkler irrigation can reduce water use by up to 50% while boosting crop yields by 30%. Countries such as Israel, which has transformed its arid lands into productive farms, are models of efficient irrigation through technology-driven agriculture.
In Pakistan, adoption of these methods remains low due to high upfront costs, lack of technical knowledge, and resistance from traditional farmers. While Punjab’s Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project (PIPIP) has introduced laser leveling and drip systems on select farms, its coverage is far too limited. If just 20% of Pakistan’s farmlands adopted drip irrigation, experts estimate that the country could save up to 5 million acre-feet of water annually. To achieve this, micro-financing schemes, government subsidies, and farmer training programs are critical. Agricultural universities and research centers should also promote climate-smart crops that require less water but yield higher output.
Water Governance Reform Is Key to Integrating New Solutions
While technological fixes are essential, Pakistan’s water crisis is fundamentally a governance failure. Poor coordination between federal and provincial authorities, weak enforcement of water laws, and outdated data systems hinder effective management. The Indus Waters Treaty (1960), though once hailed as a diplomatic success, is under stress due to increasing demand and climate-induced variability.
Moreover, no centralized water authority exists to monitor usage, enforce pricing, or integrate new technologies. Water is often treated as a free resource, especially in agriculture, which encourages waste. Experts have long advocated for the implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and the creation of a National Water Commission to oversee policy, pricing, and conservation. Additionally, digitizing water usage data and installing smart metering systems in urban areas could ensure better accountability.
Integrating Innovation with Policy
Pakistan cannot afford to rely solely on dams while ignoring non-conventional solutions. Desalination, wastewater recycling, and smart irrigation technologies, if integrated into a national water policy, could significantly reduce the country’s water stress. However, without legal frameworks, interprovincial cooperation, and financial incentives, these innovations will remain underutilized.
Successful water management requires public-private partnerships and community engagement. NGOs and local councils must be empowered to raise awareness about water conservation at the grassroots level. For instance, campaigns like “Save Water, Save Life” in India have successfully influenced urban water use behavior.
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Pakistan’s water future depends on embracing a broad, multi-pronged approach rather than relying exclusively on building more dams. While reservoirs help with seasonal storage, they cannot address urban shortages, industrial pollution, or agricultural inefficiency. Alternatives like desalination, wastewater recycling, and modern irrigation techniques offer scalable, sustainable solutions when combined with effective governance.
In conclusion, bold reforms and innovative technologies are no longer optional but essential. By adopting a national water strategy that integrates technology, governance reform, and public awareness, Pakistan can ensure a secure and sustainable water future. It is time for policymakers, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate and forge a water-secure future for generations to come.
