Overview
- Per capita water availability has fallen from about 3,500 cubic metres in 1972 to roughly 1,100, with a government brief projecting 795 by 2030 and reporting KP at 679, Punjab 760, Sindh 1,169 and Balochistan 928 cubic metres.
- ADB estimates Pakistan needs roughly Rs10–12 trillion (about $35–42 billion) over the next decade, noting recent WASH allocations of Rs1.5 trillion remain far short despite a 152% increase.
- The Indus system faces risks from upstream controls and aging infrastructure, while limited storage capacity and untreated wastewater undermine reliability and ecosystem health.
- Urban demand is rising by around 10% a year as outdated networks, high losses, low tariff recovery and frequent flooding degrade service and public health protection.
- Groundwater over-extraction is depleting reserves and spreading arsenic contamination, and ADB recommends stronger National Water Council coordination, volumetric pricing and an independent water-quality authority.