Pakistan’s groundwater crisis deepens as reserves continue to shrink

Lahore: Pakistan is facing a worsening crisis as its underground water reserves dwindle, according to a report by the Pakistan Council for Research on Water Resources (PCRWR).

The country has seen a troubling 5.66% decline in groundwater over the past eight years, raising alarms about the future of water availability.

The report highlights severe groundwater depletion in Punjab, the nation's largest province. A staggering 22.84% of Punjab is now completely devoid of groundwater, while 36.17% is dangerously close to running dry.

Shallow groundwater, at depths of up to five feet, has reduced by 3.2%, with only 0.48% of reserves left. Deeper reserves between five and 10 feet have dropped by 10.94%, while water at depths of 10 to 20 feet now stands at 34.07%.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is also grappling with a severe shortage. Nearly one-third of the province (32.96%) has exhausted its underground water supply, and another 41.94% is on the brink of depletion.

In contrast, Sindh and Balochistan have experienced less drastic declines. Only 0.03% of both provinces has lost its underground water, while 0.39% is nearing exhaustion. Groundwater at depths of five to 10 feet remains critical at 65.54%, while water at deeper levels (10 to 20 feet) has slightly increased to 32.72%.

The PCRWR report calls for urgent measures to manage water resources sustainably, as the country faces a looming water crisis.