sustainability

Article
Water Scarcity and Sustainability in an Emerging Economy:
A Management Perspective for Future
Dianxi Zhang 1 , Muhammad Safdar Sial 2 , Naveed Ahmad 3 , José António Filipe 4 , Phung Anh Thu 5, * ,
Malik Zia-Ud-Din 6 and António Bento Caleiro 7

1 Economics and Management School, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; [email protected]
2 Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan;
[email protected]
3 UCP Business School, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; [email protected]
4 Departamento de Matemática, Iscte—Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, ISTAR-Iscte, BRU-Iscte,
1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal; [email protected]
5 Faculty of Finance and Accounting, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, 300 A Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, District 4,
Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
6 Faculty of Law, Islamia University, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan; [email protected]
7 Departamento de Economia, Universidade de Evora, Largo Dos Colegiais, 2, 7002-554 Evora, Portugal;
[email protected]
* Correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract: Water scarcity is rising as a global issue, because the planet earth is facing a global water
crisis, which is considered something that can destroy environmental sustainability of our planet.
The fact is that humanity’s demand is depleting natural resources faster than nature can replenish
itself; if human habits and unsustainable use of water resources do not change, water scarcity will
inevitably intensify and become a major cause of conflict among different nations of the world. The
water scarcity issue is a crucial issue but unfortunately it has not received due attention in past.



Pakistan, which once was a water abundant country, now facing a situation of water scarcity. Pakistan


has a poor irrigation system which results 60% loss of its water; Pakistan uses more water for crop
Citation: Zhang, D.; Sial, M.S.; production than other countries. Likewise, the country harvests water from rainfall, rivers, snow,
Ahmad, N.; Filipe, J.A.; Thu, P.A.; and glaciers. The country is facing a serious water crisis that is caused by different factors, such as
Zia-Ud-Din, M.; Caleiro, A.B. Water changing climatic conditions, rising population, poor irrigation system, poor political will, and rapid
Scarcity and Sustainability in an urbanization. The water crisis of Pakistan is expected to worsen in coming years. This is a drastic
Emerging Economy: A Management
situation which calls for emergency measures. With this background, the present study provides a
Perspective for Future. Sustainability
detailed view of the water situation in the country with challenges to water management. The study
2021, 13, 144. https://dx.doi.org/
also suggests some recommendations for policymakers to improve the water crisis situation in the
10.3390/su13010144
future.
Received: 30 November 2020
Accepted: 21 December 2020
Keywords: water scarcity; sustainable development; emerging economy; environmental sustainabil-
Published: 25 December 2020 ity; surface water; groundwater; Pakistan

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu-

tral with regard to jurisdictional claims
in published maps and institutional 1. Introduction
affiliations. Water is not only an important source for life, but also plays a key role in the social,
economic, and environmental development of the world. Today, it remains a common and
unequally shared resource. There are water managers, users, and service providers who
Copyright: © 2020 by the authors. Li-
face many challenges in accessing sustainable, cost-effective, and equitable water services
censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This based on their growing sophisticated resources. Although global water crises are mainly
article is an open access article distributed attributed to water insufficiency, in some regions of the world, they are due to the lack of
under the terms and conditions of the water management that leads to water scarcity [1,2]. In many countries, the abundance of
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) water is no longer considered to remain the same in the future. Efficient water management
license (https://creativecommons.org/ can significantly impact water crises, keeping in view the issues pertinent to water such as
licenses/by/4.0/). climate change. It requires the joint commitment of different sectors including government,

Sustainability 2021, 13, 144. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13010144 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability

Sustainability 2021, 13, 144 2 of 10

society, and the private sector, and defines the roles and responsibilities of different actors
in the development, management and use of water resources.
Pakistan faces water shortages that kill hundreds of thousands of people every year.
Out of the total population of 207 million, 21 million people do not have access to clean
water [3]. Water shortages have been a major obstacle to sustainable economic growth. The
widening gap between water supply and demand leads to the deterioration of resources
and increases disputes between stakeholders. Along with this widening gap, other issues
such as climate change, a rising population, poor political will, urbanization, and little
awareness among the general population is also a significant contributor towards water
issues. The main cause of the water crisis in Pakistan are two-fold: incidental and opera-
tional, incidental causes relate to the conditions associated with poor water management
policies; and operational causes relates to conditions associated with political issues (trans-
boundary, provincial) and society (poor water management). To solve these problems, new
knowledge and tools (technologies, policies and institutions) are needed, regarding social,
economic, political and environmental issues in water management [2]. Several studies
and reports by various agencies have confirmed that Pakistan is in a state of emergency in
terms of water resources. Pakistan, with a rapidly growing population, is facing a water
crisis and the threat of food security. The availability of surface water has decreased from
5260 cubic meters per capita in 1951 to 1000 cubic meters per capita in 2016. This figure
may fall to about 860 cubic meters by 2025, which means that Pakistan is moving from
“water pressure” in the country to “scarce water” [4–6]. Mainly, Pakistan faces water crises
due to the lack of management, droughts, reduced rainfalls, and pollution [7].
There have been different governmental systems in Pakistan, including a mix of
democratic structures and military rulers, but only one took serious step for devising a
clear water policy in Pakistan. The country is facing water problems due to water shortages,
climate change, increasing water demand and agricultural production. Many projects of
water resource management programs are available nationally and regionally; however,
none of them have been approved as a policy. The National Water Policy (NWP) project
was first drafted in 2005 following a World Bank policy, but that policy has not been
implemented fully. In 2010, it was decided to revise the NWP, considering developments
in the water sector in terms of growing impact of climate change on water resources. A
committee was set up to review water policy. In 2012, the committee submitted its final
report to the Minister of Law; this is a regional issue, therefore the constitution does
not provide for the provisions of the NWP. Reviewed in 2015 by the Prime Minister’s
instructions, the NWP is available to all participants for proper testing and evaluation.
Following negotiations between local and regional governments, in 2017, the NWP was
sent to the Council of Common Interests, which is a constitutional body to resolve different
issues related to power sharing between provinces of Pakistan—it was on the agenda, but
it received little attention. The main reasons not for achieving the objectives of the above
stated water policies lie in poor commitment, political will and climate change [8].
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has ranked Pakistan e3rd in the world among
countries which are facing water shortage, and it is estimated that by 2025 the country
will have very little clean water [9]. Taking into account the deaths of 1832 children in the
last four years due to droughts [10], the drying of lakes and rivers, declining water levels,
overuse of water, lack of storage facilities, population explosions, and climate change, there
are calls for emergency measures [5]. In addition, incorrect national water policy, lack of
public and provincial interests, Pakistan–India water conflict, deforestation, threats to the
country’s reserves, and poor water supply can adversely affect agriculture, ecosystems,
and regional biodiversity [11,12]. The above facts paint a bleak picture of the future and
highlight the urgency of the water scarcity issue in Pakistan.
Water in Pakistan is a political issue, and it requires a significant amount of time
to build consensus among federations and provinces in order to make decisions that
ultimately are acceptable to all provinces. Therefore, Pakistan needs to consider all sectors
of the country and understand the fundamental changes to preserve its water resources
Sustainability 2021, 13, 144 3 of 10

efficiently. Policies should be concise to set clear goals, objectives, implementation plans
and deadlines for achievement. Pakistan has an agricultural economy, which accounts for
20% of GDP. Pakistan’s highest growth rate per year during the years 2010–2020 was 5.28%,
with considerable development in the agricultural sector from 0.27% to 3.46%. According
to an estimate, a large amount of water in Pakistan is used for irrigation that contains
both surface water and groundwater. In Pakistan, the groundwater is heavily utilized—
it contributes almost 73% for irrigation use, whereas the remaining 27% of irrigation is
dependent on surface water [13]. Hence, water is a precious resource which is essential for
an agrarian-based country such as Pakistan. According to the Hisaar Foundation’s water
policy recommendations in Pakistan, water resources, if utilized efficiently, can generate
billions of dollars in terms of agricultural output [8]. The purpose of this article is to discuss
the complexities of Pakistan’s water resource management, to evaluate the effectiveness of
previous approaches, and to suggest future strategies, because these assets are important
in maintaining the agricultural environment to ensure food security and environmental
sustainability.

2. Water Scarcity and Environmental Sustainability in Pakistan

According to the IMF, Pakistan ranks third on the list of water-scarce countries (on
the water scarcity index which compares national annual water availability with the total
annual withdrawals percentage) [14]. According to a report by the Pakistan Academy
of Science and Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), by 2025 the country
will be facing a “severe water shortage”. The literature confirms that the Indus basin has
been prone to droughts since the 19th century [15–17]. In a developing country, such as
Pakistan, its dependence on agriculture has had a major impact on its economy and human
health in general. Pakistan’s population growth and urban planning mean that water
demand is growing exponentially and supply remains difficult to forecast [18]. Currently,
the limited and sustainable water supply in the country is a major threat due to climate
change and rising pollution levels. Unless urgent action is taken, water security will cause
more adversities and inequality for vulnerable groups in society [19].
The changing climatic conditions of Pakistan, such as increased heat waves, floods,
and droughts, further aggravate the situation of food insecurity in the country. These
changing climatic conditions also affect the lives and livelihoods of poor and deprived
communities in Pakistan. Every three in four people living in poverty depends on farms
and natural resources for their livelihood. Increased competition for water, and food
insecurity due to climate change, rising population and extensive urbanization is a matter
of life and death for poor people [20]. For example, water scarcity destroys not only
natural resources but also wealth. Water is an essential element for management of the
home, household, and business systems, therefore misuse of this key resource hinders
development and affects a large proportion of the population and/or communities and
societies.
Environmentally, water scarceness is not only a matter of depleting natural resources,
but also a societal phenomenon, because the issue of water scarcity is directly related to
the general population because it induces different social problems such as access to food,
rising demand for clean water and health related issues. Water is a key component of the
economy, therefore access to this primary resource halts development and affects many
aspects of individual and/or public life. Water deficiency leads not only to economic
downfall, but also to conflicts between nations, and competition between communities
and cities. Insufficient capacity—the inability to save water discharged into the sea or treat
wastewater—makes the situation even more worse because it creates more pressure on
the already-reduced water resources for domestic users [21]. The country is now classified
as a water-stressed country, having less than 1000 cubic meters of water per year for each
person. If the situation continues and the country reaches the threshold of 500 cubic meters
of water for each person, then by 2025, it will become land without water. Eighty percent of
the population in the 24 main cities of Pakistan do not have accessibility to clean water, for
 Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW

Sustainability 2021, 13, 144 per year for each person. If the situation continues and the country 4 ofreaches
10 the
of 500 cubic meters of water for each person, then by 2025, it will become lan
water. Eighty percent of the population in the 24 main cities of Pakistan do no
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have accessmore thanwater
to clean 16 million
[22]. of peo
The unprecedented climatic conditions of Pakistan, which includes variation in monsoons of Pakis
have access to clean water [22]. The unprecedented climatic conditions
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from the work of Ikram Sehgal 2017 [25] and edited by the authors to show more recent trends.

While the accessibilityWhile the accessibility

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they depend on a subsistence livelihood. Climate change has led to the loss of crops, which
has had a major impact on people’s living standards, making them more likely to urbanize
and commute regularly. Poverty in rural areas is linked to land resources, the scarcity of
which can lead to massive urbanization. As water uncertainty increases, climate change
Sustainability 2021, 13, 144 5 of 10

will worsen, and more droughts will occur [26]. Likewise, in the context of Pakistan, rapid
urbanization along with a rising population, inefficient water usage in crop cultivation,
poor water management, and lack of interest from the government will remain the constant
reasons to further aggravate the water crises in Pakistan.

3. An Overview of Water Resources in Pakistan and International Water Agreements

with Neighbors
Pakistan shares its water with two neighbors: India and Afghanistan. With India,
Pakistan signed an important water treaty in 1960 that included the three eastern rivers—
the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlaj—and the three western rivers of Pakistan—the Indus,
the Chenab and the Jhelum river. However, Pakistan claims that India violated the Indus
Water Treaty when construction of the Baglehar Dam began in 1999. Pakistan has reiterated
that India has raised the issue by launching new projects such as a project to construct a
dam named “Ratle” on Chenab River Dam and the Kishan Ganga project which is to be
constructed on the Neelum–Jhelum river. Completion of these projects, along with changes
in the distribution of river water to Pakistan, may result in the loss of basic access to water
to the people of the Indus basin, which is an area that relies heavily on rivers. Access
to water is a “fundamental human right” embodied in various international conferences
and statements. Therefore, blocking the flow of water to Pakistan by India would lead to
a direct violation of human rights. Conversely, there is no agreement between Pakistan
and Afghanistan on the Kabul river—one of the largest resources along the Indus River,
which accounts for 10 to 12 percent of the Indus river system. The Kabul basin is the
source of water for more than 20 million people, meaning that this population is very
susceptible to the effects of climate change. Therefore, the co-riparian nations—Pakistan
and Afghanistan—are vulnerable to climate change which is a threat to the entire region.
Interestingly, both countries have a special situation on the Kabul river; they have territories
located in upper and lower riparian areas. The Kabul river is an icy river that receives less
contribution from glaciers [27].
As elsewhere, Pakistan’s water sector is a matter of demand and supply. As a result
of harsh and dry environment in many regions of the country, irrigated cultivation is
the main source of income. Direct precipitation covers just 15% of the total water needs
of plants, and the remaining 85% is covered by other irrigation mechanisms. Pakistan’s
ground water resources are being depleted at a rapid pace, and the disparity between water
demand and supply for crop cultivation is usually fulfilled by groundwater abstraction [28].
Approximately 100 years ago, the Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) was planned to
increase yearly productivity (i.e., annual harvested capacity) by about 75%, with the goal
of distributing irrigated water to as large a region as possible to increase resettlement
capacity. The main purpose of irrigation expansion at that period was to preclude crop
failures. Other characteristics of the design were the little administration and functioning
requirements, which are useful but have their own shortcomings. Rising demand for food
and rising commodity prices have encouraged farmers to increase annual production to
meet the food growing needs to facilitate a growing population. Over time, many canals
could not be designed due to landslides and coastal crossings. As a result, the availability
of water in the canal per unit of irrigated land has been significantly reduced [29].
In the 1970s, insufficiency, inconsistency, and unreliability on the surface led to massive
crop losses, land dilapidation, and social insecurity. Agricultural output declined due to
land depletion and water shortages, resulting in mass relocations from rural to urban areas.
As a result, the farm’s residents were rescued by installing groundwater wells to irrigate
crops. Recognizing the benefits of groundwater cultivation, the government supported the
expansion of irrigation facilities and energy supply to maintain high levels of production.
Introduction of power supplies and small diesel engines increased tubewells from 10,000
in 1960 to 0.6 million in 2002 and 0.8 million in 2006 [30], whereas by 2020 the number of
tubewells has increased to 1.2 million [13].
The estimated amount of groundwater abstraction from these tubewells is 51 × 109 m3
in relation to a recharge of 40 to 60 × 109 m3 . Approximately 33 × 109 m3 were produced
Sustainability 2021, 13, 144 6 of 10

through individual tubewells, and the other 18 × 109 m3 came from public-owned tube-
wells. Mass abstraction and the use of groundwater in irrigated region of Pakistan began in
1961 with the introduction of salinity control and reclamation projects (SCARP). Thousands
of large tubewells had been installed in the system to facilitate groundwater and connect
irrigation equipment. This led to an increase in the number of farmers with individual
tubewells with a standard capacity of 0.03 m3 s−1 or less. The SCARP tubewells deepened
groundwater levels from 1.5 to 2 million hectares, and from 3 to 4 million hectares, thus
significantly influencing the problem of high congestion. This reduced salt-affected lands
from 7 to 4.5 million hectares [31]. Excess water produced through the SCARP tubewells
increased agricultural efficiency in many areas of SCARP from 80 to 120% during 1998,
as mentioned in the database of International Waterlogging and Salinity Research Insti-
tute [32]. The free use of groundwater has proven to be important for food security of
the poor, and a catalyst for economic prosperity in rural areas. In many water-deficit
settlements in Pakistan, it transformed the vision of a small and changing crop shift to safer
and more productive crops. Groundwater now provides more than 50% of the required
amount of water (although most of the groundwater is reused in the surface irrigation
methods, due to its flexibility and demand) [33]. The statistics around groundwater in
Pakistan are even more worrying: it is estimated that during 2019, the contribution of
groundwater for crop production increased to 60% which is an alarming figure. Similarly,
it is also estimated that groundwater level in Pakistan lowers by one meter every year.
The quality of groundwater is also depleting every year, with increasing bacteriological
contamination and rising levels of metals such as arsenic [34].
The contribution of groundwater to develop plant support is growing, and will be
further expanded in the future due to the increased burden to grow more foodstuffs, which
will increase the causes of drought in the region [35]. Qureshi et al. [33] showed that during
2014, more than 70 percent of farmers in the province of Punjab depended directly or
indirectly on groundwater to meet their needs. Without access to groundwater, farmers
not only in the Punjab but also across the country will face food shortages, because more
than 90% of wheat is produced in the Punjab province. To finance cultivated investment
in Pakistan, it is important to invest a lot of effort and money into making this important
resource sustainable. Over the past three decades, Pakistan has made some efforts to
address resource depletion, maintain groundwater quality, and address the serious problem
of land degradation due to water runoff. However, progress is limited [31].
The first effort to introduce a special environmental law in Pakistan was taken in
1977. In 1992, the country developed a National Conservation Strategy (NCS), and in
2001, the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) was sanctioned by the Pakistan
Environment Protection Council. NEAP addresses environmental concerns, including air,
water and sanitation, soil, and forestry issues, and it faced various challenges in addressing
climate change. The National Environmental Policy was developed under the NEAP and
published by the Environment Ministry in 2005, providing a comprehensive framework
for addressing environmental issues arising from water pollution. This policy is aimed at
protecting, preserving and restoring the national environment for sustainable development
by improving the lives of citizens; moreover, it provides guidance to different classes [36].
Environmental assessment (EA) is still in the infancy stage in Pakistan. In 1970, the
first set of EA rules and regulations were developed, but were not officially implemented
until the late 1990s. Whereas, in the global context, EA is the frontier of public recognition
and is more integrated. An important policy in Pakistan, including the EA as an important
tool of the environmental crisis, is the federal government’s program for sustainable
development (2005–2010). It calls for the promotion of EA as a means of integrating the
environment into policymaking. The International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN-Pakistan) 1994 established the environmental assessment services unit (EAS) in
1994 to implement Pakistan’s National Environmental Guidelines by strengthening and
supporting professionals and regulating institutional governance. Since its inception, the
EAS has developed a wide range of services, including EAs for core policies, plans and
Sustainability 2021, 13, 144 7 of 10

programs, and conducted seminars on environmental issues. Table 1, presents Pakistan’s

national water security index in comparison to its neighboring countries and other nation of
Asia and others. In this regard, five key dimensions (KD) are reported in Table 1 including
Household water security (KD1), Economic water security (KD2), Urban water security
(KD3), Environmental water security (KD4) and Resilience (KD5). It is reported that
security index of Pakistan is vulnerable for KD1, KD3, KD4 and KD5, which shows that the
issue of water crises in Pakistan is at its peak in the majority of key dimensions as compared
to other countries such as India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. At present, the economic
water security is not a huge threat for Pakistan as on average, the country still gains water
for its major crops and yields, but if poor water management continues in future, than it is
likely that economic water security (KD2) will rise to a rating of 1 (hazardous) on the water
security index [37].

Table 1. Pakistan water security index in comparison to other countries source [37].

Countries KD1 KD2 KD3 KD4 KD5 Total Rating Index

Bangladesh 1 3 1 1 1 7 1
Cambodia 1 3 1 2 1 8 1
Pakistan 1 4 1 1 1 8 1
Nepal 1 3 1 2 3 10 2
Sri Lanka 3 4 1 1 2 11 2
China 3 4 2 2 2 13 2
India 1 3 1 1 2 8 1
KD= Key Dimension; KD1= Household water security; KD2= Economic water security; KD3= Urban
water security; KD4 =Environmental water security; KD5= Resilience; 1 = Hazardous; 2 = Engaged;
3 = Capable; 4 = Effective; 5 = Model.

4. Recommendations and Conclusions

4.1. Recommendations
The following are a set of recommendations for managing water scarcity and environ-
mental sustainability in Pakistan.
Storage and efficiency: More than 50% of the water abstracted from the Indus river
system does not reach farms. In order to retain this water, efficient measures must be
taken; for example, the country needs to rebuild its canal system to reduce water wastage
in the form of leakages and illegal breaches of canals. Although efficient canals systems
cannot be installed immediately, a rapid water supply system can reduce leakage by at
least one-third. Similarly, groundwater conservation measures can be implemented by
controlling their abstraction and use in irrigation efficiently. In the field of water demand
management, special attention should be paid to maintenance and efficiency. The current
policy is focused on supply. It is important to differentiate efficiency, which means reducing
waste, from working more with less, and saving and reducing consumption.
Conservation: An important step in reducing the impact of climate change on water
resources is conservation. If the rainfall is unstable and the annual rainfall is above
average or the rainfall declines in the coming years, then storing more water becomes
important to combat water crises, although relying only on storage is not a long-term
solution. Similarly, a national conservation plan and irrigation system should be developed
to consider water release, water storage, and water rehabilitation in the dry season. In
addition, there is a great potential for small and medium-sized dams to improve the life of
existing storage sites and to upgrade the infrastructure of the existing sites. Increasing the
water reservoir increases water availability for irrigation and other users. However, there
are some potential issues associated with water conservation, especially with water that is
preserved in large dams—these are destroy carbon sinks in oceans, destroy habitats, and
displace poor communities.
Technologically: In order to deal with water scarcity issue in Pakistan, the adoption
of new technologies is urgently required, including wastewater treatment and the reuse of
Sustainability 2021, 13, 144 8 of 10

water so that water efficiency may be increased in different parts of the country. Likewise,
recycling seawater, using GIS technology to prepare an efficient water inventory, and moni-
toring and control of the actual water supply would be beneficial. Increased innovation
in the water sector should be encouraged as much as possible, including investment in
initiatives that promote the development of vision, demand management, and agricultural
production.
Integrated water management (IWRM): Water management is moving from a secto-
rial approach to an integrated approach. In the context of Pakistan, an integrated water
strategy is required to deal with the issue of water scarcity in the long-term. To achieve this,
the integration of all water stakeholders is required, which may range from the efficient
utilization of water, conservation of water, and a national consensus to manage water for
future sustainability.
Fundamentals of integrated governance: The first effort to introduce a special envi-
ronmental law in Pakistan was taken in 1977. In 1992, the country developed a National
Conservation Strategy (NCS), and in 2001, the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP)
was sanctioned by the Pakistan Environment Protection Council. NEAP addresses envi-
ronmental concerns, including air, water and sanitation, soil, forestry issues, and it faces
various challenges in addressing climate change. The central government must play a key
role in formulating policies to ensure sustainable surface and groundwater use, industrial
use, and wastewater management. Food safety, water safety and energy security are closely
interrelated, and a proper management system must address all related issues, including
groundwater pollution, wastewater treatment, and emissions.
Agriculture sector: The agriculture sector is the largest user of water resources in
Pakistan, but unfortunately, water used by the agriculture sector is poorly managed. In this
regard, government needs to encourage farmers to adapt to modern irrigation technologies.

4.2. Conclusions
More than 70% of the rural population in Pakistan, including some of the most
disadvantaged in the country, rely heavily on natural resources for survival. Efficient
management is required if the precious resource of water is wasted on a daily basis. Aware-
ness of all possible environmental alternatives requires a high return rate and reduced
abstraction rate. The problem of water scarcity needs to be thoroughly studied, and a
viable solution should be developed and implemented. The increase in the density of cities
along river sides, has led to the abstraction of fresh water and it has a negative impact on
water quality of rivers. Therefore, water balance, water quality, and water statistics are
very important for a sustainable water supply. Likewise, the government should introduce
effective land reforms, because large land is more productive than small land, and land
ownership needs to be increased to address this issue. Effective and efficient policies for the
agricultural sector will undoubtedly enhance water management efficiency of the country.
Water policy is about promoting the sustainable use of water resources by improving water
efficiency. There is a strong possibility of increasing the water supply by increasing the
canal water efficiency (reducing leakages and illegal breaches of canals) from 33% to 90%,
comparably with developed countries. Suitable solutions to reduce water leaks, efficient
metering, and improving water efficiency should be encouraged. Pakistan uses only 10% of
its water flow from rivers per annum, as compared to the global average of 40% [38]. The
scarcity of these resources will offset huge financial costs. For example, repeated three-year
floods in 2010, 2011 and 2012 severely damaged the national economy along with other
issues such as the global financial crisis of 2009–2010, the devaluation of Pakistan currency,
and the trade deficit. halved potential economic growth. Instead of a growth rate of 6.5%,
the economy grew at an average rate of 2.9% per annum [8].
At the international level, the Indus Water Convention regulates Pakistan’s right to
access water in Indus basin. Although environmental and economic pressures across the
border are the significant contributor to water conflict, the agreement has endured. Water
policy does not include the impact of climate change on surface water use and water
Sustainability 2021, 13, 144 9 of 10

resources, therefore there is a need for further actions to be taken by the officials of water
policy. Provincial water management, from a regional perspective, should be adopted with
India.
Water policy should strive to improve water quality for all purposes. In Pakistan,
the percentage of wastewater discharged to the rivers, without treatment is 82%. Priority
should be given to the development and adoption of cost-effective water treatment and
disinfection technology in the construction and operation of water treatment plants to
ensure safe water use. Contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause up to 40% of
all diseases in Pakistan, costing between PKR 25 billion to PKR 58 billion a year. This is
detrimental to economic growth, because this amount is 0.6–1.44% of GDP [39].
To reap the benefit from water resources, the entire water chain of Pakistan requires
fundamental adjustments. In addition, although Pakistan once was water abundant coun-
try, it could not develop proper human resources for efficient water management. The
country is now a water-stressed country, and there is urgent need for investment in human
resources, particularly water managers to solve problems in this sector through scientific
knowledge and research. As Pakistan approaches its 74th anniversary of independence,
the government must move beyond speaking on water issues in the context of national
climate change, environmental sustainability, and national water policy, to address the
water crisis the country faces.

Author Contributions: All authors have contributed equally to all sections of this manuscript. All
authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: The research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: Data of present study, will be available on request from corresponding
author.
Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam for the support of time and facilities for this study.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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