A report by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has warned that Pakistan has fallen below the global threshold for water scarcity, with annual per capita availability now just 733,000 liters.
The international water scarcity limit is defined as 1,000 cubic meters per person per year. The document notes that Pakistan’s water storage capacity is under 10 percent of its annual river flow, while the world average is 40 percent.
The country’s rivers deliver most of their water in a short four-month period, leaving the rest of the year marked by shortages. Reservoirs are rapidly losing capacity due to sedimentation, and agriculture remains the largest consumer of water.
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Four major crops account for roughly three-quarters of all agricultural water use, while outdated irrigation techniques and water-heavy farming practices are worsening the strain on supplies.
The PCRWR report emphasised that boosting storage infrastructure is vital to prevent a more severe crisis. It also suggested improving irrigation efficiency, promoting drought-resistant crops, and managing demand across sectors.