ADB warns 80pc of Pakistanis lacks clean drinking water

Pakistan is heading toward an alarming water emergency, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) revealing that more than 80 percent of the population is deprived of clean drinking water.

The warning came through the Asian Water Development Outlook Report 2025, highlighting fast-depleting reserves and rising vulnerabilities linked to climate change.

According to the ADB, Pakistan’s water security has deteriorated sharply over the years despite improvements in scoring systems. Per capita water availability has fallen from 3,500 cubic meters to just 1,100 cubic meters, pushing the country toward the threshold of absolute scarcity.

The report warns that indiscriminate extraction of groundwater is causing the spread of toxic arsenic across several regions. Climate change, rising population, weak management systems, and misaligned priorities are accelerating the crisis.

Agriculture identified as largest water waster

ADB notes that Pakistan’s agricultural sector consumes the highest volume of water yet remains highly inefficient. Outdated irrigation systems, poor water practices, and inadequate monitoring continue to undermine conservation efforts.

The report stresses that economic development will remain impossible without meaningful water security, urging authorities to shift focus from large physical projects to long-term reforms and governance improvements.

While Pakistan has developed strong water policies on paper, ADB found that implementation remains “weak and slow.”

A shortage of financial resources continues to widen the gap. The water sector needs ₨10–12 trillion in the next decade, yet current funding remains insufficient to address urgent challenges.

Rising vulnerability to floods and droughts

Pakistan’s exposure to extreme climate events remains high. The report recalls how the 2022 floods displaced millions, highlighting the need for long-term resilience planning.

ADB observed that Pakistan continues to face threats from both floods and droughts, especially with rapidly changing temperature patterns and environmental degradation.

Huge costs of poor water and sanitation

Poor water and sanitation systems cost Pakistan $2.2 billion annually, while urban areas face weak infrastructure, untreated wastewater discharge, and frequent urban flooding.

In rural Pakistan, water access remains disturbingly low, compounded by polluted sources and poor monitoring systems.

The industrial sector is also flagged for relying “almost entirely” on groundwater extraction, increasing pressure on already shrinking reserves.

Pakistan’s water storage system is outdated and inadequate for current demand. ADB warns that rivers, wetlands, and aquatic ecosystems are deteriorating further due to persistent stress and lack of restoration efforts.

Although Pakistan’s water security score improved by 6.4 points from 2013 to 2025, the progress is not enough to reduce long-term risks.

Technical capacity in the water sector remains weak, with limited coordination among institutions.

ADB highlights that investment continues to focus on large infrastructure, while policy reforms and community-based initiatives remain underdeveloped.
Gender equality and social inclusion in water governance also continue to progress slowly.

The report recommends establishing an independent authority to monitor water quality across Pakistan, noting that governance challenges are contributing to uneven development and worsening resource depletion.