Pakistan Enters Severe Water Scarcity as Availability Drops to 899 Cubic Meters

Pakistan has entered a critical phase in its ongoing struggle with water scarcity, as per capita availability drops to just over 900 cubic meters. The country’s annual per capita water availability stood at 5,260 cubic meters in 1951 but plummeted to an alarming 899 cubic meters by 2025. This decline underscores the severity of Pakistan’s water crisis.

The report from the Ministry of Water Resources has revealed that population growth is a significant factor driving this downward trend. The country’s population was estimated at 241.49 million in 2023, with projections indicating it will reach 254.79 million by 2025.

In response to this crisis, the federal government has outlined a roadmap for developing new water reservoirs by the year 2030. As part of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), 18 small, medium, and large dam projects are currently in various stages of development. These initiatives aim to provide an estimated 8.2 million acre-feet of additional storage capacity.

Among these ambitious plans is the Diamer Bhasha Dam project, which has been earmarked for completion. Upon its successful implementation, this dam will contribute 6.4 million acre-feet of water storage capacity. This development promises to irrigate approximately 45 million acres under the Indus Basin Irrigation System.

The immediate goal is to ensure that by 2030, these projects bring about a substantial increase in irrigation supply for serviced land—an essential step toward alleviating Pakistan’s chronic water scarcity issues.