Water woes on the rise

Amid all the tall talk of bright futures and progress, a new report delivers a humbling estimate of where the country really stands. The Asian Development Bank says that over 80% of Pakistan's population lacks access to safe drinking water, leaving almost 200 million people at serious risk of waterborne diseases that can create public health crises and cripple productivity. Despite years of relatively impressive legislation, policymaking, and related theatrics, systemic failures have left Pakistan's water security stagnant for several years.

And water quality is not even the biggest problem on the liquid front. Pakistan also ranks as a severely water-stressed country, with per capita availability having plummeted from 3,500 cubic metres in 1972 to just 1,100 cubic metres today — far below the safe threshold of 1,700 cubic metres. This scarcity is compounded by crumbling infrastructure. Ageing pipelines, poor drainage, and ineffective service delivery models mean that even available water is often contaminated or unreliable. The report explicitly warns that "upstream water control and infrastructure challenges continue to threaten the Indus River system, Pakistan's lifeline."

Climate change acts as a devastating multiplier, intensifying the cycle of crisis. Shifting weather patterns also disrupt agriculture and deplete resources. More frequent and severe floods destroy infrastructure, followed by droughts that strain reserves.

The scale of the problems is now well beyond quick fixes. The ADB recommends strengthening the National Water Council, establishing an independent water quality authority, and introducing volumetric pricing to reduce water waste. But all of these things also cost money, and the financing gap is colossal. While funding for water, sanitation, and hygiene-related projects has increased, Pakistan's current allocations are just a drop in the ocean compared to the estimated Rs10 trillion required over the next decade.