Punjab Urges 2030 Action on Water Crisis Amid Climate Change

Punjab Government Sets 2030 Targets for Water Conservation Amid Worsening Crisis

The Punjab government has set ambitious targets for water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge by 2030 due to climate change, declining rainfall, and falling groundwater levels. However, officials and experts claim progress is slow as the crisis worsens, particularly in Lahore.

Climate Resilient Punjab Vision and Action Plan 2024 highlights strong climate pressure from rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, urban growth, and unregulated groundwater use leading to rapid depletion of groundwater resources.

In Lahore, multiple studies indicate that groundwater levels are dropping by up to one meter annually. Areas such as Gulberg, Shadman, and Muslim Town have been declared high-risk zones.

Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) in Lahore has launched a groundwater recharge project where rainwater is directed back into the ground through specially constructed wells. According to a WASA spokesperson, recharge wells have been installed in Tajpura, Liberty, Qaddafi Stadium, among others, with plans for expansion.

The Punjab government has also approved 358 underground water tanks across the province, including 34 large tanks and 324 roadside tanks. Recharge wells will be constructed alongside these tanks to help restore groundwater levels.

Separately, WASA in Lahore has prepared a plan for 1,000 groundwater recharge wells in the city. Officials say three wells are currently operational, each capable of recharging about 8,000 gallons of water daily. Secretary Housing Punjab Noor-ul-Amin Mengal said 15 initial sites in Lahore have been selected for recharge wells, while the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) will allocate space in all parks.

The Punjab Climate Resilient WASH Sector Development Plan 2025-35 states that the existing water management system is not strong enough to withstand climate stress. It warns that achieving the 2030 targets will require large-scale investment, modern water infrastructure, and improved capacity of local governments.

Dr Muhammad Yasin from the Centre for Integrated Mountain Research, University of Punjab said that while water policies are being formulated, the real issue is implementation. “Frequent changes in governments and policies damage long-term planning. Recharge wells alone are not sufficient; groundwater extraction must be controlled, surface water projects expanded, and urban planning made environmentally sustainable,” he added.

Environmental Protection Agency Punjab (EPA) Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh said the government has made rainwater harvesting systems mandatory in 23 new sectors. “Industries including poultry, fish farms, textiles, pharmaceuticals, food, and cement, as well as housing societies, hotels, marriage halls, educational institutions, and commercial buildings, must install rainwater harvesting systems, and construction approval is linked to this requirement,” he claimed.

WWF Pakistan’s Freshwater Programme Director Sohail Ali Naqvi explained that climate change is increasing heatwaves, droughts, and irregular rainfall, severely impacting groundwater reserves. “Government agencies have warned temperatures in South Punjab may exceed 50 degrees Celsius, while phenomena like El Niño are disrupting the hydrological cycle, causing extreme rainfall in some areas and drought in others,” noted Naqvi.

He added that groundwater levels in Pakistan, especially Punjab, are declining rapidly due to excessive tube well use. With more than 1.3 million tube wells in the province, the water table is continuously falling despite reduced rainfall.