WATER insecurity in Pakistan has been building up for decades as per capita water availability has declined from comfortable levels to near-scarcity thresholds. Climate change has intensified the pressure, expanding drought-prone zones and triggering displacement, particularly in Balochistan and Sindh. What is new is the belated recognition of its scale by policymakers, especially after India’s illegal suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting water security to finally be treated as a central pillar of national planning. It is in this context that Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s call for a national consensus to move beyond reactive water crisis management towards an integrated strategy for ensuring water security, particularly in view of India’s weaponisation of water, is timely. Few would disagree with the central premise of Mr Iqbal’s argument: water can no longer be treated as a narrow, sectoral issue. It has become a foundational issue for national security and economic stability.

Water management in Pakistan has long been undermined by institutional silos, competing provincial priorities and policy inconsistency. A unified national framework anchored in effective coordination between the centre and provinces is therefore essential. After all, water insecurity will affect everyone across provincial boundaries. The proposed alignment of development spending, climate financing and private-sector participation with water security goals reflects a clear awareness that the challenge is as much about governance and financing as it is about physical scarcity. The stress on efficient water use and conservation is also well placed. Agriculture consumes most of Pakistan’s water, yet productivity per unit is low. Better seeds, crop zoning, rational pricing policies and incentives for less water-intensive crops are critical reforms we need to implement. Likewise, the focus on groundwater governance is long overdue. Unchecked extraction has emerged as one of the most serious threats to long-term water sustainability, highlighting the need for regulation, monitoring and community-based conservation efforts. Perhaps the most forward-looking aspect of the proposed approach is the emphasis on data, science and technology. Real-time monitoring systems, satellite-based assessments, precision agriculture and AI-enabled forecasting can significantly improve efficiency and transparency in water use. A reliable national water information system can help build trust among provinces, reducing disputes rooted in the absence of reliable data.

That said, the renewed push for large reservoirs risks reviving a contentious policy. Large dams, often presented as silver bullets for Pakistan’s water woes, strain public finances, and impose heavy social and environmental costs, causing displacement of communities and affecting livelihoods. Their effectiveness is also uncertain amid climate variability, sedimentation and persistent transmission losses. Hence, side-lining sustainable and cost-effective solutions to make way for large dams would be a mistake.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026