Infrastructure issues threaten Indus

ADB calls for reform, investment as 80% population lacks safe drinking water

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan's lifeline – the Indus Basin Water System – is facing mounting threats from upstream water controls and deep-rooted infrastructure challenges, while over 80% of the population lacks access to safe drinking water, leading to widespread waterborne diseases, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Asian Water Development Outlook report says Pakistan remains a severely water-stressed country, with per capita water availability standing 35% below the international benchmark due to rapid population growth. The report, which assessed 50 Asian countries, evaluated performance across rural, economic, urban, environmental and water-related disaster security.

"Upstream water control and infrastructure challenges continue to threaten the Indus River system, Pakistan's lifeline," the report stated. The ADB did not respond to a question on whether the upstream challenges were linked to India's threats to cut Pakistan's water supplies. The report underlined that Pakistan is facing growing pressure on its water resources due to population growth, climate change and weak water management. Per capita water availability has dropped sharply from 3,500 cubic metres in 1972 to just 1,100 cubic metres in 2020The minimum safe threshold of 1,700 cubic metres.

It further noted that more than 80% of Pakistan's population lacks access to safe drinking water, contributing directly to widespread waterborne diseases. Overuse of groundwater in agriculture has led to rapid depletion and arsenic contamination. The country's water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and related health outcomes remain poor, with widespread open defecation still persisting in many areas.

Pakistan's overall water security score has remained largely flat across the 2016, 2020 and 2025 assessments, with the country continuing to remain in the "Engaged" water security category. The ADB said that despite being one of the region's largest economies with a significant agricultural base, progress has been constrained by persistent inefficiencies in water use, weak industrial performance and limited infrastructure upgrades.

According to the findings, Pakistan remains at lower levels of water supply due to ageing infrastructure and persistent service delivery gaps. The country's drainage score remained at the lowest possible level because of poor planning, limited investment, land conversion and rising risks from flash floods.

Pakistan's water-related disaster security continues to be a major concern. While early warning systems and emergency financing have seen some improvement, rapid urban growth and development in floodplains continue to increase exposure to disasters. The ADB warned that continued urban encroachment on floodplains is steadily pushing hazard exposure higher.

Rural household water security remains under pressure due to ineffective service delivery models, limited surveillance and persistent contaminationthough some improvements in hygiene and health outcomes have been observed in recent years.

Economic water security is constrained by falling per capita water availability, insufficient storage capacity and heavy reliance on poorly regulated groundwater for industrial activity. Urban water security has recorded only modest gains, with rising demand, untreated wastewater and frequent urban flooding straining infrastructure and service delivery systems.

Environmental water security showed a slight decline as rapid population growth, expanding industrial activity and untreated wastewater continue to degrade aquatic ecosystems across the country. Water-related disaster security fell in the early part of the assessment period and has remained stagnant, with Pakistan repeatedly experiencing major flood and drought events, including glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

Despite these challenges, Pakistan's overall national water security score improved moderately between 2013 and 2025 by 6.4 points. Water governance performance also rose from 50% in 2017 to 63% in 2023. The ADB said this progress reflects a sound legal and policy foundation, but implementation remains weak. Institutional fragmentation, limited coordination, low technical capacity and underinvestment continue to restrict progress, especially in light of growing population pressures, climate risks and systemic inefficiencies in water management.

The report said that agriculture, industry and energy sectors all face water-related constraints. Industrial water use relies almost entirely on groundwater, while infrastructure gaps and poor surface water quality continue to reduce reliability. Limited storage capacity and outdated irrigation practices further compound water stress, leaving economic water users vulnerable to both drought and over-extraction of resources.

To improve water security, the ADB recommended that Pakistan strengthen institutional coordination under the National Water Council, introduce volumetric pricing to promote efficiency and investment, and embed gender, equity and social inclusion into water-related decision-making. It also proposed the establishment of an independent water quality authority, along with the expansion of environmental regulation and ecosystem protection.

The lender estimated that financing for water governance in Pakistan remains inadequate and poorly coordinated. While WASH funding increased by 152% between 2019 and 2023, the total allocation under the Public Sector Development Programme during this period stood at only Rs1.5 trillion. This figure remains far below the estimated requirement of Rs10 trillion to Rs12 trillion over the next decade.

The report concluded that Pakistan has built a relatively strong policy foundation, but systemic weaknesses continue to limit progress across all five dimensions of water security. Continuing financing shortfalls remain a major constraint on effective water governance. The report said South Asia is facing extreme heat and shifting rainfall patterns, threatening agriculture and amplifying drought stress. Between 2013 and 2023, the region experienced 244 major flood events, 104 droughts and 101 severe storms. These disasters have reversed development gains, disrupted economies, degraded ecosystems and weakened community resilience.

Across Asia, the region must mobilise an estimated $4 trillion to meet water, sanitation and hygiene needs between 2025 and 2040. This translates into approximately $250 billion annually. When China and India are excluded, the financing gap for the ADB's developing member countries stands close to $900 billion. However, current budgets are meeting only about 40% of the required financing, leaving an annual shortfall of more than $150 billion, the report added.