Pakistan is grappling with a severe water crisis, with its reservoirs depleting rapidly, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has warned. According to ADB’s Asian Water Development Outlook 2025 report, the country’s water security is at risk, and without urgent reforms, economic growth could be seriously hampered.
The report reveals alarming statistics: over 80% of Pakistan’s population lacks access to clean drinking water, and per capita water availability has dropped drastically from 3,500 to just 1,100 cubic meters. Unregulated groundwater extraction is causing toxic arsenic contamination, while environmental changes, population growth, and poor water management are worsening the crisis. The agricultural sector is identified as the largest consumer, contributing significantly to water wastage.
ADB emphasizes that strong policies alone are not enough; implementation remains slow and weak. Pakistan requires significant financial resources, sector reforms, and major investments to secure its water future. The report estimates that between 10 to 12 trillion rupees will be needed over the next decade, highlighting the insufficiency of current investments. The 2022 floods displaced millions, underscoring the persistent risks of both floods and droughts.
According to ADB, poor water and sanitation practices cost Pakistan around $2.2 billion annually. Urban flooding, untreated wastewater discharge, and limited water access in rural areas remain major challenges. Industrial reliance on groundwater, weak infrastructure, and outdated systems are further straining the water ecosystem. Although Pakistan’s water security score improved by 6.4 points from 2013 to 2025, technical capacity, coordination, and attention to major projects remain insufficient. Gender equality and social inclusion in water management also continue at a slow pace.
The report recommends the establishment of an independent authority to monitor water quality. ADB warns that without better governance, development will remain uneven. Across the Asia-Pacific region, 2.7 billion people face limited water access, with $250 billion required for water security. Environmental degradation and funding shortfalls are projected to increase future risks. The continent accounts for 41% of the world’s floods, yet current spending on water and sanitation projects covers only 40% of actual needs. A funding gap of $150 billion annually threatens water security, with $4 trillion projected to be necessary for regional water systems by 2040.
