Pakistan’s water security situation has reached a critical stage, with the government warning of severe risks to agriculture, public water availability, and flood management due to regional tensions, rapid population growth, climate volatility, and delays in key protection projects. These concerns were outlined during a detailed briefing During Question Answer session in the National Assembly, where the Minister for Water Resources presented a stark assessment of the challenges facing the country and the state’s long term response strategy.
The Minister informed lawmakers that a major setback has emerged following India’s unilateral decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, a move that is not provided for under the treaty framework. This development has disrupted hydrological data sharing and technical coordination, creating uncertainty in river flow management. Officials warned that any reduction or interruption in the flow of the River Chenab could have devastating consequences for agriculture, placing millions of acres irrigated through the Upper and Lower Chenab Canal systems at serious risk. Authorities have already observed irregular flow patterns, increasing concerns over crop sustainability and food security.
The briefing highlighted a dramatic decline in per capita water availability, underscoring Pakistan’s shift from a water abundant country to one approaching severe scarcity. Water availability, which once exceeded several thousand cubic meters per person annually, has fallen to critically low levels and is expected to decline further. The Minister attributed this sharp reduction primarily to rapid population growth, which has expanded many times over since the country’s early years, placing unprecedented pressure on limited water resources.
Climate instability has further worsened the situation. The government reported that Pakistan has experienced extreme and unpredictable weather patterns, moving from prolonged dry spells to intense monsoon rainfall. While recent monsoon seasons delivered above normal rainfall across several regions, officials cautioned that this surplus has been uneven and temporary. Forecasts for the winter period indicate below normal rainfall and snowfall, raising concerns about water replenishment in reservoirs and glacier fed river systems.
Responding to questions on reservoir maintenance, the Minister ruled out desilting of major dams, explaining that technical studies found the process to be economically unviable and of limited long term benefit. Instead, the government has adopted a strategy focused on constructing new upstream reservoirs to manage sedimentation and expand national storage capacity. Several water infrastructure projects have been completed in recent years, adding significant storage, while multiple large-scale dams are currently under construction with substantial public investment. Planning and design work is also underway for additional reservoirs aimed at strengthening long-term water security.
On flood management, the Minister addressed concerns regarding Dera Ismail Khan, clarifying that recent river flows were classified as medium level floods and did not result in reported loss of life or infrastructure damage. He acknowledged, however, that progress on the National Flood Protection Plan has been delayed. Although numerous flood mitigation projects have been approved, physical work has yet to begin due to the unavailability of required foreign funding. Provincial authorities have proposed several sub-projects to protect vulnerable districts, but implementation remains stalled.
