Pakistan requires an estimated $18 billion in federal financing over the next decade to strengthen its water infrastructure, improve irrigation efficiency and increase water supplies to farms, as the country faces worsening water scarcity, according to a Planning Commission report.
Under the National Water Security framework of URAAN Pakistan, the administration plans to raise water use efficiency from 40 percent to 70 percent and increase water availability at farm gates from 58.3 million acre feet (MAF) to 79 MAF by 2029.
Pakistan Plans to Expand Water Storage Capacity
The framework sets a target to lift national water storage capacity from 15.318 MAF to 23.54 MAF by 2029. The report cautions that current live storage represents just 11 percent of annual Indus River flows, leaving the nation exposed to water shortages and floods.
Initiatives currently within the Public Sector Development Programme should contribute 9.821 MAF of storage capacity. A series of planned initiatives, such as the Akhori Off Channel Storage Dam, Shyok Dam and Skardu Dam, may supply another 14.5 MAF.
The projected $18 billion funding need spans strategic water infrastructure, containing reservoir development, flood management and canal modernization. The framework additionally suggests creating a Water System Integrator role under the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) to enhance accountability in water distribution from rivers to farms.
Pakistan Targets More Efficient Irrigation
Farming uses roughly 95 percent of Pakistan's freshwater withdrawals, while irrigation efficiency stays near 40 percent. The document urges broader use of drip and sprinkler irrigation through financial incentives, modifications to abiana charges to match actual operation and maintenance expenses, and shifts in cropping patterns to raise water productivity.
The document points out about 20.58 million acres of eligible agricultural land outside formal irrigation networks, presenting potential for growing irrigated farming. It also advises tying subsidies for solar powered agricultural tubewells to groundwater registration and sustainable extraction caps.
Groundwater Depletion Raises Concerns
The Planning Commission cautions that solarization drives faster groundwater depletion by letting farmers pump water at almost no extra energy expense. Groundwater levels drop by 0.5 to 1 meter every year across Punjab, and the Indus Basin Aquifer is named the world's second most overstressed aquifer system.
The framework demands stricter groundwater oversight together with irrigation changes to stop further depletion and boost the sustainable use of water resources.
The document points out a steep drop in flood warning time at Marala Headworks, from 40 hours in 2014 to just 5.5 hours in 2025, emphasizing the necessity to upgrade the nation's flood monitoring and protection networks.
The suggested steps involve executing the National Flood Protection Plan IV, boosting glacier monitoring via a National Glacier Protection Act and refreshing flood design assessments using updated hydrological data. The framework additionally suggests naming water security a national security priority.
Wastewater Recycling Included in Water Security Plan
Pakistan plans to recycle at least 25 percent of urban wastewater under the framework. The document mentions that roughly 53 percent of monitored urban water sources are unsafe for drinking, pointing to the necessity for superior water quality management and treatment facilities.
The Planning Commission warns that hitting the 2029 goals will rely on joint execution of infrastructure works, regulatory changes and better water governance throughout the nation.
