ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Water Development Outlook Report 2025 says that 80 percent of Pakistanis are not drinking pure water due to a lack of access.
In the report, it is stated that Pakistan needs between 35-42 billion dollars in the next ten years in order to enhance water governance.
Total water available per person has reduced by 2,400 cubic meters because of the high rate of population growth.
ADB has observed that the water supply is being reduced to 1,100 cubic meters per capita between 1972 and 2030, as compared to 3,500 cubic meters in the same period. This could significantly enhance the transmission of water-borne diseases.
Report Summary
The report indicated that over-exploitation of water in agriculture is depleting the groundwater and polluting it. The river systems in Pakistan are being threatened by opposite water flows and infrastructure issues.
It also states that the supply of water to rural areas is useless and that monitoring systems are weak. Water availability policies and clean water provision policies are not in tandem with demand.
Water-related issues affect agriculture, industry, as well as the energy sector.
ADB indicates that Pakistan has a low water-storage capacity and a poor canal system.
Urban water demand is increasing at an average rate of approximately 10 percent per year, and the uncleaned water and urban flooding are negatively affecting the population and other critical services.
ADB puts it into perspective that significant infrastructural undertakings would be required in order to improve water storage. Pakistan is at risk or riskier of water security without institutional partnerships, capacity-building on technical levels, and better financial planning.
Depending on prevailing dollar rates, it will take up to 12 trillion Pakistani rupees to reform the water sector. Nevertheless, the report indicates that the score of water security in Pakistan has increased over the last 13 years.
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