Pakistan is a severely water-stressed country, rapidly moving towards a state of absolute water scarcity. It ranks as one of the most water-insecure nations globally, with per capita water availability having plummeted from over 5,000 cubic metres in 1947 to below 1,000 cubic metres today, threatening to create a massively water-starved population.

Traditionally, the major causes of Pakistan being a water-stressed country have been listed as population growth, rapid urbanisation, climate change affecting glaciers and monsoon patterns, and mismanagement of water resources. However, no concrete policy has been devised and implemented to conserve water. For instance, the country has an extremely low water storage capacity, with only 30 days of storage, compared to 900 days in the United States or 700 days in Egypt. Similarly, over 80 per cent of the country’s water resources are used by four major crops (rice, wheat, sugarcane and cotton), which contribute only 5 per cent to GDP.

Moreover, about 95.8 per cent of Pakistan's water depends on the Indus River system, which is highly sensitive to climate-induced changes. Pakistan has over 75 per cent of its water originating outside the country. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates the three western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — largely to Pakistan, and the three eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — to India.

However, in April 2025, India announced a unilateral suspension of its obligations under the IWT following the attack on tourists in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 — an incident New Delhi blamed on Islamabad without evidence. Pakistan has warned that India’s unilateral decision to hold the IWT in abeyance has created an unprecedented crisis for Pakistan’s water security and regional stability. Such conduct threatens food and economic security, jeopardises the livelihoods of millions who depend on these waters, and sets a dangerous precedent for the management of transboundary resources under international law.

In June 2025, the Permanent Court of Arbitration stated that India cannot unilaterally hold the treaty in abeyance. However, India has refused to comply with the court ruling and has also refused to participate in the court proceedings. Further, with the IWT now in abeyance, India is pushing ahead with several hydroelectric projects in the Indus basin, such as Sawalkote, Ratle, Bursar, Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru, and Kirthai I and II.

Recently, in a message on World Water Day, President Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the unilateral suspension of the treaty by India and called on India to immediately restore full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in accordance with international obligations.

Water is a source of life and sustains agriculture, cities, and the natural environment. Therefore, as the pressures on water resources have grown due to population demands, poor water management, the intensive use of water by agriculture, and the recent existential threat posed by the abeyance of the IWT by India, the question arises: what are the country, its leadership, and its people going to do about it?

To combat the looming existential water threat, Pakistan needs to immediately take a few policy-level steps. First, modernise agricultural infrastructure by repairing canals and waterways with the active participation of the private sector. Water-intensive crops need to be moderated, and more drought-tolerant crops such as millet and barley should be promoted, along with the adoption of drip irrigation for watering crops. Second, large and small water reservoirs need to be built on an emergency basis, cutting across political rhetoric and expediencies. Third, rainwater harvesting in urban sprawl needs to be promoted, especially in planned societies where implementable models may be tested and then deployed at the provincial and national levels. Moreover, alongside rainwater harvesting, used water needs to be recycled. Fourth, industries need to be guided to use innovative technologies and techniques to conserve water by adopting less water-consuming technologies and recycling used water. Fifth, beverage companies manufacturing mineral water and carbonated drinks consume prodigious amounts of water. Since these firms operate in a water-stressed country, they need to be placed under increased scrutiny for their high water consumption. Thus, an array of policy-level steps needs to be implemented simultaneously to save the country, its people, and its environment and ecology from an imminent disaster and desertification.

Ahsan MunirThe writer is a freelance columnist.

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