Pakistan, once water-abundant and home to one of the world’s largest irrigation systems, now faces a severe water crisis.

Decades of mismanagement, outdated farming practices, poor crop selection, and political inertia have led to rapid groundwater depletion in Punjab and widespread waterlogging in Sindh.

While provinces argue over water allocation, the real issue – inefficient water use – remains largely ignored. With agriculture consuming over 90% of the nation’s water, immediate action is needed to prevent mass displacement, food shortages, and economic collapse.

The crisis is not due to scarcity but poor management. The Indus Basin, one of the world’s largest river systems, receives around 140 million acre-feet (MAF) of water annually. However, Pakistan can store only 10% of this flow – far below the global average of 40%. A stark comparison with India highlights this failure.

Under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan received the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab), with about 140 MAF of water, while India was allocated the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej). Yet, India has developed reservoirs storing 18.5 MAF, while Pakistan has managed only 13.6 MAF despite having far greater river flows.

The 1991 Water Accord, meant to ensure fair distribution, exacerbated tensions because allocations were made without first developing adequate storage. Without reservoirs, even available water goes to waste, fueling interprovincial disputes. Meanwhile, agriculture remains highly inefficient.

Flood irrigation, the dominant method, wastes over 50%........

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