By Mohammad Ehsan Leghari

As 2025 draws to a close, Pakistan stands at a hydrological crossroads. A year marked by the paradoxical extremes of climate change; dry winter to started with, devastating monsoon floods followed by parched last months, has culminated in an unambiguous warning from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The newly released ‘Asian Water Development Outlook 2025’ (AWDO 2025) provides more than just data; it offers a profound diagnostic of a nation whose water security is lagging behind a rapidly advancing region. While the broader Asia-Pacific has successfully transitioned nearly 2.7 billion people toward water security since 2013, Pakistan’s progress remains incremental at best, with its National Water Security (NWS) index increasing by a mere 6.4 points, trapping the country in the entry level of  “Engaged” stage (Stage 2) alongside nations facing extreme fragility like Afghanistan (ADB, 2025).

The Governance Gap: Paper Victories vs. Ground Realities

The analytical core of the AWDO 2025 evaluates 50 countries across five critical dimensions: rural household water security, economic water security, urban water security, environmental water security, and resilience to water-related disasters. These dimensions aggregate into a National Water Security (NWS) index.

The Five Stages of Water Security

The AWDO framework categorizes nations into five stages based on their ability to manage water resources and risks. Stage 1 (Nascent) represents countries with minimal institutional capacity and high vulnerability. Stage 2 (Engaged), where Pakistan currently sits, identifies nations that have established policy frameworks but struggle with a significant gap between legislation and ground-level implementation. Stage 3 (Capable) marks the transition to functional service delivery and coordinated management, while Stage 4 (Effective) denotes near-universal access and advanced governance. Finally, Stage 5 (Model) is the gold standard, reserved for countries with fully resilient, circular water economies capable of withstanding extreme climate shocks.

For Pakistan, the report identifies a worrying “implementation gap.” While governance indicators nominally improved from 50% in 2017 to 63% in 2023, largely due to the formalization of the 2018 National Water Policy; these improvements remain largely confined to policy documents. On the ground, the reality is sobering: over 80% of the 240 million citizens still lack access to safely managed drinking water. In urban centers, the shift in security was a negligible +1.7 points, reflecting a chronic failure in drainage systems that turned megacities like Karachi into flood zones during the 2025 monsoons, forcing a continued and expensive reliance on informal “tanker economies” (ADB, 2025). The other large cities like Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Lahore were also devastated by 2025 floods.

The Indus Delta: Defending the “Environmental Flow”

The most critical evidence of Pakistan’s stagnant water strategy is found in the Environmental Water Security dimension, which saw a net decline of 0.4 points. Pakistan is an outlier in this regard, as it is the only dimension where progress actually reversed. This decline is the direct result of the ongoing collapse of the Indus Delta, an ecosystem that the report describes as being in terminal decline due to the systemic deprivation of freshwater flows (ADB, 2025).

For decades, a pervasive and scientifically flawed narrative has dominated Pakistan’s upstream and engineering circles: the idea that freshwater flowing into the sea is a “waste.” AWDO 2025 provides a sharp empirical rebuttal to this myth. This discharge, known as Environmental Flow (E-Flow), is not a luxury but a functional requirement for the country’s physical and economic survival. E-Flows provide the hydraulic pressure necessary to push back the Arabian Sea. Without this pressure, seawater has intruded dozens of miles inland, sterilizing fertile soil and contaminating the groundwater table. The cost of this “waste” narrative has been the displacement of 1.2 million people over the last two decades, turning the Delta’s inhabitants into “climate refugees” within their own borders (UNU, 2024; ADB, 2025).

Furthermore, the Delta is suffering from “sediment starvation.” By trapping nutrient-rich silt behind upstream dams without any restorative downstream planning, Pakistan has essentially ensured that its coastline is shrinking. The report highlights that the death of the Delta’s mangrove forests which are our natural defense against storm surges, has left the coastal economy exposed to climate shocks that shaved an estimated 0.5% off the national GDP in 2025 alone.

A Comparative Perspective: Why others are winning

Pakistan’s predicament is underscored when contrasted with its South Asian neighbors, who face similar population pressures and monsoonal extremes but have charted more robust paths forward.

• Bangladesh (+8.6 points): Once the global symbol of flood vulnerability, Bangladesh has surged ahead via its Delta Plan 2100. Unlike Pakistan, Bangladesh treats its delta as an economic engine. By integrating climate-resilient crops and using river sediment to naturally raise land levels, they have stabilized food supplies and minimized land loss to the sea (GWP, 2024).
• Vietnam: Though outside South Asia, Vietnam’s Resolution 120 for the Mekong Delta is important work. Vietnam moved away from intensive rice farming that required blocking the sea, instead embracing a “nature-based” economy that thrives on the natural mixing of fresh and saline water for high-value aquaculture (World Bank, 2023).
• Sri Lanka (+11.3 points): Sri Lanka leads the region in urban and environmental balance. By designating coastal wetlands as “Green Infrastructure,” Colombo uses its marshes to absorb monsoon surges—a strategy that protects the city far more effectively than the crumbling concrete drains of Karachi (ADB, 2025).
• India (+15.0 points): India recorded the highest NWS increase in the region. Through its Jal Jeevan Mission, it prioritized rural household water security, lifting millions out of insecurity by expanding piped water networks. Though there were severe conflicts on water distribution between states, e.g., Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on waters of Kaveri River, India’s gains were helped by federal-state collaborations and investments in groundwater regulation and river basin planning—cooperation that Pakistan’s inter-provincial mistrust has yet to replicate (ADB, 2025).
• Nepal (+11.1 points): Nepal excelled by embedding water policies into its national development plans. By leveraging international aid for widespread piped networks and sanitation upgrades, Nepal achieved improvements nearly double those of Pakistan. This cohesive institutional approach bridged the “implementation gap,” significantly lowering disease burdens in remote Himalayan villages (ADB, 2025).

The Economic Toll of Inefficiency

Economic water security in Pakistan improved by a mere 0.9 points, primarily because the agricultural sector continues to consume 90% of available resources with some of the lowest yields in Asia. The ADB report estimates that the regional investment gap will reach $4 trillion by 2040. For Pakistan, this gap is compounded by “deferred maintenance” on irrigation systems and a persistent neglect of women’s roles in water collection and management, which further marginalizes the most vulnerable segments of the population.

Conclusion: 2026—Reform or Repetition?

The AWDO 2025 serves as both an indictment and a roadmap. The report concludes that “turning frameworks into action is now critical.” For Pakistan, this means an immediate and legally binding commitment to Environmental Flows for the Indus Delta. The “waste” narrative is a luxury the country can no longer afford.

As the year 2026 approaches, the question is whether the state will continue its reliance on paper policies or if it will finally adopt the nature-based, climate-adaptive strategies seen in its neighbors. The survival of the Indus Delta; and by extension, the prosperity of the entire nation, depends on recognizing that water security is not about how much we trap, but how well we manage the flows that sustain the life of the land.

References

Asian Development Bank (2025). Asian Water Development Outlook 2025: Advancing Water Security Across Asia and the Pacific. Manila: ADB

Global Water Partnership (2024). Deltaic Governance and Climate Resilience in South Asia: A Regional Perspective. Stockholm: GWP.

World Bank (2023). Vietnam Mekong Delta Resilience Report: Shifting from Quantity to Quality. Washington D.C.: World Bank.

United Nations University (2024). Sinking Deltas: A Global Assessment of Sediment Starvation and Sea-Level Rise. Tokyo: UNU-EHS.

Government of Pakistan (2018). National Water Policy. Islamabad: Ministry of Water Resources.

Read: Beneath The Pakistan’s Soil

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Mohammad Ehsan Leghari is a water expert, former Member (Sindh), Indus River System Authority (IRSA), and former Managing Director, SIDA.

The post Analyzing Pakistan’s Water Crisis first appeared on Sindh Courier.

• Unless we change course, the next major crisis facing humanity may not be war or economic collapse, but a world simply running out of water.

By Kashif

Imagine waking up one day to find your taps dry, crops withering, and industries grinding to a halt. This is not the plot of a dystopian novel—it’s the harsh reality already affecting millions around the world. A new report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) paints a troubling picture: a quarter of the global population experiences extremely high water stress every year. As demand soars and supplies dwindle, the world is edging closer to a full-blown water crisis.

The WRI’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas provides detailed insights into global water stress levels, highlighting regions at risk and potential solutions. The full report can be accessed at the website.

Water Stress: A Silent Emergency

Water stress occurs when the demand for freshwater exceeds available resources. The WRI classifies regions based on their level of water stress:

1. Extremely High (80%) – Countries where over 80% of available water is used annually, leaving little room for error.
2. High (40-80%) – Areas with significant water scarcity risks.
3. Medium-High (20-40%) – Moderate stress but potential for future shortages.
4. Low-Medium (10-20%) – Relatively stable water supply.
5. Low (<10%) – Abundant water availability.

Looking at the global map, red and orange zones dominate large parts of the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, and even developed regions like the U.S. and Europe. While some areas have been battling water shortages for decades, others are now facing unexpected crises.

Middle East & North Africa (MENA): The Epicenter of Water Crisis

If there’s one region that exemplifies extreme water stress, it’s the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This part of the world has always been arid, but a growing population and increasing industrial demand are pushing water resources to the brink.

Countries at the highest risk include Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Libya. These nations rely heavily on desalination, a process that turns seawater into drinkable water. However, it’s expensive and energy-intensive, making it a difficult long-term solution.

South Asia: A Crisis in the Making

South Asia is home to some of the world’s most densely populated countries, making water shortages a ticking time bomb. India, in particular, is facing severe groundwater depletion, threatening both agriculture and drinking water supplies. Sri Lanka, too, is projected to experience escalating water stress in the coming years.

Europe’s Unexpected Struggle

Most of Europe enjoys relatively stable water availability, but Belgium is an outlier. Despite being a developed nation with advanced infrastructure, Belgium faces extremely high water stress, largely due to industrial demand, urban expansion, and pollution.

South America: The Thirsty Continent

Chile is enduring one of the worst droughts in its history, with over a decade of below-average rainfall. The consequences are severe—farmers struggle to grow crops, urban centers ration water, and energy production is disrupted as hydropower levels drop.

North America: A Drying Landscape

In the U.S., states like California, Texas, and Arizona are under high or extremely high water stress. Repeated droughts, over-extraction of groundwater, and climate change have made water scarcity a persistent issue in these regions.

Australia: The Land of Droughts

Australia, a nation familiar with water shortages, is seeing its situation worsen. Rising temperatures and longer droughts have left vast parts of the country in extreme water stress, affecting both urban and rural communities.

Climate Change: The Greatest Threat to Water Security

The world is warming at an alarming rate, and with it comes longer droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and increased water demand. Scientists predict that if current trends continue, global temperatures could rise by 2.8°C to 4.6°C by 2100, leading to:

• More frequent and prolonged droughts.
• Shrinking freshwater sources, including glaciers and rivers.
• Increased competition for water, potentially leading to conflicts.

Water scarcity is no longer just an environmental issue—it’s a geopolitical and economic crisis in the making.

What Can Be Done? The good news? There are solutions.

Governments, industries, and individuals must act now to secure water for future generations. Some key strategies include:

Smarter Water Use – Agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater consumption. Technologies like drip irrigation and drought-resistant crops can reduce waste.

Investment in Infrastructure – Desalination, wastewater recycling, and efficient water storage solutions are critical.

Stronger Policies – Governments must enforce regulations to prevent over-extraction and promote fair water distribution.

Climate Action – Cutting carbon emissions can slow global warming and mitigate its impact on water resources.

Countries like Israel have set a remarkable example by turning a once water-scarce nation into a global leader in water conservation. Through a combination of desalination, wastewater reuse, and strict water laws, Israel has managed to secure its water future—proving that solutions do exist.

Pakistan: The Struggle for Survival

In Pakistan, the battle for water is intensifying. It’s a crisis that stretches beyond the fields and rivers, affecting millions of lives, livelihoods, and even the country’s future. With agriculture being the backbone of the economy, the deepening water shortage threatens not just crop production but the very essence of life in the country. The over-reliance on groundwater in Pakistan has reached dangerous levels. Farmers, particularly in the agricultural heartlands, have turned to tube wells to extract water from underground aquifers. While this provides an immediate solution, it comes with grave consequences. Groundwater levels have plummeted across the country, especially in regions where surface water is no longer sufficient to meet the demand.

In many areas, the natural recharge of aquifers has slowed down, as the groundwater is being extracted faster than it can be replenished. This has resulted in dangerously low water tables, leaving communities without access to reliable sources of water, especially in arid regions where rainfall is scarce. The situation is becoming increasingly unsustainable, and the problem only grows more pressing with each passing year.

The rivers that have historically provided Pakistan with its most vital water source are now shrinking at an alarming rate. The mighty Indus River, once a lifeline to millions, is drying up due to a combination of reduced rainfall, melting glaciers in the Himalayas, and the diversion of water upstream, especially by India. The reduced flow of these rivers directly affects agriculture, which relies heavily on irrigation. The consequences are dire: crops fail, food security is threatened, and livelihoods are shattered. The situation is further complicated by the depletion of wetlands and other natural water bodies, which once helped regulate the flow of water across the land.

In addition to the shrinking rivers, Pakistan’s major dams, like Mangla and Tarbela, are facing their own challenges. While these dams were once vital in storing water for irrigation and power generation, they are now losing much of their capacity due to sedimentation. Over decades, the accumulation of silt has rendered these reservoirs less effective in their primary roles. As the sediment builds up, the storage capacity of these dams diminishes, further limiting the amount of water available for the agricultural sector and other critical needs. The situation calls for urgent attention to restore and maintain the health of these vital water bodies.

As if the internal challenges weren’t enough, Pakistan is also embroiled in regional conflicts over water rights. The Indus Water Treaty, signed with India in 1960, is intended to manage the distribution of water from the Indus River System, but tensions continue to simmer as both countries deal with growing water scarcity. Similarly, Afghanistan’s use of the Kabul River has also become a source of concern for Pakistan. These geopolitical disputes exacerbate the already fragile water situation, raising fears that water could become yet another weapon in the ongoing political struggles in the region. With increasing population pressures and the threat of climate change, the stakes have never been higher.

While the situation is dire, there are steps that can be taken to alleviate the crisis and move towards a more sustainable future. The agricultural sector, which uses the majority of the country’s water, can benefit from more efficient irrigation techniques. Methods like drip irrigation and sprinklers can significantly reduce water wastage and ensure that crops get the water they need without depleting resources unnecessarily. Pakistan’s water crisis is one of the country’s most urgent challenges, and it is not something that can be solved overnight. However, with collective effort, significant progress can be made. The government, local communities, and neighboring countries all have vital roles to play. It is only by working together that we can secure a future where water is available for all, ensuring that this precious resource continues to sustain life in Pakistan for generations to come.

The Clock is ticking

Water is the foundation of life. Yet, for billions of people, access to clean and reliable water is becoming a daily struggle. The findings from WRI’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas serve as a wake-up call—unless we change course, the next major crisis facing humanity may not be war or economic collapse, but a world simply running out of water.

The time to act is now. Because without water, there is no future.

Read: As Himalayan Glaciers Melt, a Water Crisis Looms in South Asia

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Kashif Rehman, based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, brings over two decades of experience in development programs and humanitarian response. His expertise spans climate change adaptation, community mobilization, and gender mainstreaming. He can be contacted at Zahoor.kashif@gmail.com.

The post Water Scarcity Threatens Future Humanity first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Abdullah Usman Morai

Water as Lifeline, Water as Battlefield

Throughout history, civilizations have risen and fallen along the banks of rivers. From the Nile to the Tigris, from the Yangtze to the Amazon, water has given birth to empires and cultures. But in the 21st century, water has become more than just a source of life—it has become a cause for conflict, a tool of power, and, tragically, a weapon of oppression.

In South Asia, no river carries more historical, emotional, and spiritual weight than the Indus River. It is not just a waterway—it is the soul of Sindh. It whispers stories of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, nurtures wheat fields and date palms, and sustains generations of farmers, laborers, artisans, and dreamers. But today, that very river stands at the center of a storm—a storm of inequality, injustice, and existential dread.

As upstream and midstream provinces push forward with controversial canal constructions, without a consensus or environmental assessment, Sindh is sounding the alarm. But the cries seem to echo into a void.

The Silent Theft: Canals That Choke a Civilization

In the heart of this crisis lies a simple yet devastating truth: water meant for Sindh is being siphoned off upstream, leaving behind dry fields, cracked soil, and shattered futures. Despite the Constitution, despite interprovincial water accords, and despite the fundamental principles of fairness, illegal canals are being carved from the Indus River.

What’s unfolding isn’t just a political dispute—it’s a human tragedy in the making. One that touches every corner of Sindh, from Thatta’s fishing villages to Jacobabad’s barren lands.

Read: ‘Our water has been taken hostage’

The reaction from the people has been swift, impassioned, and unrelenting. Lawyers in black suits, journalists with cameras and pens, traders who depend on agricultural markets, students whose education is at risk, mothers who fear for their children’s hunger—they’re all standing together in the blistering heat. Protests are swelling across cities and rural towns. Voices are rising. The slogans are fierce, the resolve even fiercer.

But the question on every tongue is hauntingly simple: Why is no one listening?

Sindh’s Cry: A Matter of Survival, Not Politics

Sindh’s economy, its heritage, and its future are rooted deeply in agriculture. The rhythm of life here follows the flow of the Indus. When it is abundant, the people thrive. When it recedes, they suffer. When it is taken, they fall into crisis.

The construction of these canals threatens to unbalance this fragile harmony. If Sindh is deprived of its fair share of water:

• Farmers will be forced to abandon their fields, unable to sow or harvest.
• Children may be pulled out of schools, as families sink deeper into poverty.
• Daughters’ marriages may be delayed or canceled, breaking hearts and customs.
• Healthcare will become a luxury, as clean water becomes scarce and diseases rise.
• Unemployment and hunger will push people towards crime, not by choice, but by necessity.

It’s not just water being taken. It’s dignity, dreams, and decades of hard work.

This isn’t alarmism—it’s a real and present danger. And yet, the construction machines move forward, undeterred. Decisions are made in cold offices, but their consequences are felt in burning villages.

The Spiritual and Ethical Crisis

Let us not forget: this is not merely an issue of policy. This is a moral and spiritual dilemma.

In Islam, to rob someone of their basic rights—to snatch from the poor what sustains them—is not just haram—it is sinful on a level that touches the very soul of a nation. And when it comes to water, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself emphasized that water is a shared blessing, not a hoarded possession.

What is being done today, under the pretext of development or provincial privilege, is nothing short of a slow, calculated suffocation of an entire people’s future. This is not development. This is death by policy.

A United Resistance: From Sindh to the World

One of the most powerful outcomes of this injustice has been the solidarity of Sindhis across the province and beyond. For once, political lines are blurred. From peasants in Khairpur to professionals in Karachi, from elders in Larkana to students in Hyderabad, and even to diaspora Sindhis abroad, there is unity, there is a voice, and there is fury.

They may not hold power in Islamabad. But they hold the moral high ground, and the courage to raise their voices in 50°C heat is proof enough of how deep their wounds are.

Sindh is not asking for charity. It is demanding justice.

Conclusion: A Future That Flows Equally

Pakistan’s strength lies in its unity, in its diversity, in its ability to hold together its provinces like siblings under a single roof.

To those in power, listen before injustice turns into irreversible collapse. What use is national pride if its lifelines are drained dry? What kind of patriotism builds canals for one province and droughts for another?

The Indus must flow for all. Let it not become a river of rage and resentment.

Let wisdom prevail. Let compassion guide decisions. Let the Indus remain not a boundary line between the privileged and the oppressed, but a shared lifeline—a flowing testament to unity, justice, and peace.

Stop the canals. Start the conversation. Let every province live with dignity. Let Sindh live.

Read: Rising through Rumi’s Wisdom

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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.

The post Indus: The River Of Resistance first appeared on Sindh Courier.