Pakistan Water Crisis
Why has there been so little debate in changing the status quo when Pakistan is reported to run dry by 2025.
There is a widening gap between supply and demand only 53% of the population have access to an improved water source. More people than ever before are affected by water shortages. 68% of households drink water unfit for human consumption due to bacterial contamination.
Data shows the Pakistan government has accumulated a large amount of environmental debt with a number of proposed water schemes at high costs and little results. Pakistan’s water economy is running dry .
The number of non-functional water schemes outweighs the number of functional schemes in the country.
The UN estimates that up to 2.9 billion will face water shortages in 10 years in 48 countries. The World Resources Institute has declared Pakistan as ‘extremely water-stressed’ by 2040. Pakistan water policy does not exist which impacts heavily on scarce water resources. If policymakers do not establish a 'National Water Policy' the consequences are dangerous.
Sources: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, UNICEF, WaterAid & World Bank
