Crisis worsens as Pakistan becomes water-deficient country

Water crisis has aggravated in Pakistan as its availability has come down considerably, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to a report submitted by the Ministry of Water Resources to the National Assembly on Wednesday, Pakistan, which was earlier a water-stressed country, has now become a water deficient country.

Giving a reason for that, the report has said this is because of an increase in population.

The report reads that in 1951, water available per person was 5, 260 cubic meters, which dropped to 1,102 cubic meters in 2017.

It came down further in 2023 as it was recorded at 948 cubic meters.

Two years later in 2025, it stood at 899 cubic meters.

When the availability of water drops below 1,000 cubic meters, it is deemed to be water deficiency.

In 2023, the country’s population was 241.49 million, which was projected to rise to 254.79 million in 2025.

The report informs that the federal government has prioritized the development of new water reservoirs in the country by 2030.

It says that presently the government is working on building 18 small, medium and large dams at the cost of Rs1,036.069 billion.

After completion, these dams will have the capacity to store close to 8.2 million acres feet of water.

Only Diamer-Bhasha Dam will have the capacity to store 6.4 million acres feet of water.

Reporter: Rozeena Ali