ISLAMABAD DEC 9: More than 80 percent of Pakistan’s population does not have access to safe drinking water, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) — considered one of the most comprehensive assessments of water security across Asia.
The report warns that rapid population growth, climate change, and poor water governance are putting Pakistan’s water resources under extreme pressure. As a result, waterborne diseases remain widespread across the country.
ADB notes that Pakistan’s per-capita water availability has dropped dramatically — from 3,500 cubic meters in 1972 to just 1,100 cubic meters in 2020, pushing the country toward high water stress.
Excessive extraction of groundwater for agriculture has led to depletion of aquifers and rising arsenic contamination, making water unsafe in many regions.
The report also highlights the continued strain on rural water supplies due to weak service models, poor monitoring, and persistent pollution. While some improvement has been recorded in sanitation and health indicators, challenges remain significant.
Urban water security has seen only minor progress. Growing demand, untreated sewage discharge, and increasingly frequent urban flooding have weakened infrastructure and disrupted services.
Environmental water security has worsened slightly as population growth, industrial effluent, and untreated wastewater continue to damage aquatic ecosystems.
Pakistan also remains highly vulnerable to floods, droughts, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) — disasters that have repeatedly stalled progress.
Overall, Pakistan’s national water-security score improved by 6.4 points between 2013 and 2025, but ADB warns that without stronger governance, improved storage, and better water-resource management, the crisis will deepen.