Pakistan is grappling with an escalating water crisis as its usable reserves have drastically declined. According to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), water reserves now stand at just 3.856 million acre-feet, a drop of 188,000 acre-feet in a single day and 723,000 acre-feet over four days.
The crisis stems from reduced river inflows—Indus is down by 10,000 cusecs, Jhelum by 2,600, and Chashma by 2,500, with only a slight 500 cusec rise in the Chenab, which experts say is insufficient.
Read more: Rawalpindi Declares Water Emergency Amidst Worsening Drought
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif responded by calling an urgent meeting, ordering immediate efforts to fast-track the construction of dams. A committee led by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, including all provincial chief ministers, was tasked with submitting funding and construction recommendations within 72 hours.
The meeting reviewed updates on major dams, noting that the Diamer-Bhasha Dam is set for completion in 2032 and the Mohmand Dam by 2027. Currently, Pakistan has 11 major dams with a storage capacity of 15.318 million acre-feet, and many others are in progress.
Tensions with India over water rights were also addressed. PM Shehbaz denounced India’s threats to halt water supplies, calling it a breach of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and an act of “water aggression.” All leaders at the meeting supported developing a national strategy to secure Pakistan’s water future.
