Pakistan is no longer approaching a water crisis; it is already living through one. Rapid population growth, climate change, inefficient irrigation, falling groundwater levels and weak water governance are putting growing pressure on the country’s water resources. Pakistan’s stored water has been described as enough for only about 30 days, far below the 120-day benchmark often cited in water-security discussions.

For decades, Pakistan’s response has largely centred on major dams. Tarbela and Mangla have played a vital role in irrigation and power generation, while projects such as Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand remain important. But large dams are costly, slow to build, require constant maintenance and gradually lose storage capacity. Pakistan needs them, but it should not depend on them alone.

Climate change is making the challenge harder. Pakistan can face destructive floods in one season and serious shortages in another. The real issue is therefore not simply how much water the country receives, but how much it can capture, store, recharge and reuse.

Agriculture must be at the centre of reform. Pakistan still relies heavily on traditional irrigation, while ageing canals and inefficient water use create large losses. Excessive groundwater pumping adds another layer of risk. Drip and sprinkler irrigation, canal rehabilitation, better water........

© Pakistan Observer