For a farmer staring at a cracked and thirsty field, the news from Islamabad feels a world away. Our nation is suffering, but the wound isn’t something you’ll see in a headline about political rivalries. It’s the slow-drying well, the silent worry etched on a mother’s face as she rations water for her children. While our leaders trade barbs on television, a real, tangible crisis of survival is unfolding in our villages. It’s the crisis of water—the very lifeblood of our people—being squandered by neglect and endless debate. This isn’t just policy; it’s a moral duty we are failing to meet.

Since July 2025, a staggering 25 million acre-feet (MAF) of fresh, life-sustaining water has been lost to the sea. By the end of this month, that figure is expected to reach 30 MAF. To put this in perspective, this is enough water to irrigate the vast, arid Cholistan desert for a generation, turning dust into sustenance. It represents a colossal failure of management and a betrayal of our most vulnerable citizens.

The economic fallout is........

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