As the proverbial sword of Damocles hangs over Punjab’s agricultural sector, the province’s groundwater crisis has reached a tipping point. The latest data from the Water Resources Zone of the Punjab Irrigation Department paints a gruesome picture that the province’s groundwater table is depleting at an alarming rate of 0.5-1.0 meters per annum. This precipitous decline is largely attributed to the unchecked installation of tube-wells, which has increased from a mere 4,500 in 1960 to over 1.5 million in 2024. The statistics are nothing short of staggering. Punjab’s groundwater extraction rate is a whopping 142% higher than the recharge rate. Contemporary research on groundwater resources has unveiled a shocking truth that 60 (bm3) billion cubic meters out of total 68 bm3 (billion cubic meters) of groundwater have been extracted in Pakistan, with Punjab accounting for 90% share of this extraction. But the situation is about to take a turn for the worse. Other studies have revealed a high risk of arsenic contamination and heavy metals contamination in groundwater, particularly in Punjab’s hotspots. These contaminants are highly carcinogenic and mutagenic, posing a lethal threat to human health. The consequences of this unchecked groundwater exploitation are far-reaching. Rural communities are struggling to access clean drinking water, leading to an increased incidence of water-borne diseases. And now, with the added risk of arsenic and heavy metals contamination, the situation is nothing short of catastrophic.
It is high time that the Government of Punjab took immediate action to address this crisis. This includes regulating the installation of tubewells, enforcing strict pumping limits, and investing in water conservation and recharge schemes. Moreover, urgent measures are needed to mitigate the risk of arsenic and heavy metals contamination, including regular water quality monitoring and public awareness campaigns. The people of Punjab cannot afford to wait any longer. The time to act is now, lest we want to be left high and dry with a toxic legacy that will haunt us for generations to come.
Dr Muhammad Mehboob Hassan Khan
Multan
