Pakistan’s water crisis has deepened significantly, with per capita water availability continuing to decline, according to a report submitted by the Ministry of Water Resources to the National Assembly on Wednesday, local media reported.
The report states that Pakistan, once categorized as a water-stressed country, has now officially entered the water-deficient category due to rapid population growth and declining water resources.
According to official figures, per capita water availability stood at 5,260 cubic meters in 1951 but fell sharply to 1,102 cubic meters in 2017. The decline continued in subsequent years, dropping to 948 cubic meters in 2023 and further to 899 cubic meters in 2025.
Under international benchmarks, a country is considered water-deficient when per capita water availability falls below 1,000 cubic meters.
The report attributes the worsening situation largely to population growth. Pakistan’s population was recorded at 241.49 million in 2023 and is projected to increase to 254.79 million by 2025, placing additional strain on already limited water resources.
To address the crisis, the federal government has prioritized the development of new water storage infrastructure by 2030. The report reveals that work is currently underway on 18 small, medium, and large dams, with an estimated total cost of Rs1,036.069 billion.
Once completed, these projects are expected to add approximately 8.2 million acre-feet of water storage capacity. Among them, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam will be the largest, with a storage capacity of 6.4 million acre-feet, making it a cornerstone of Pakistan’s long-term water security strategy.
Experts have repeatedly warned that without urgent conservation measures, efficient water management, and timely completion of reservoir projects, Pakistan’s water scarcity could pose serious risks to agriculture, energy production, and overall economic stability.
