Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday outlined a comprehensive, multi-pronged national strategy to tackle Pakistan’s growing water crisis, underscoring the importance of a unified, science-based approach to ensure long-term water security.

Addressing the ‘Roundtable Consultation on National Water Security’ under the ‘Uraan Pakistan’ initiative, the minister said the country’s water challenge is no longer limited to scarcity but also stems from persistent mismanagement.

“Sometimes we face extreme shortage and at other times destructive floods; therefore, water management is as critical as water availability,” he said. Urging a shift beyond “traditional statements”, he stressed the need for national consensus on water conservation and a cohesive water security policy.

“This challenge cannot be solved in silos, whether between the federation and provinces, sectors or regions. It has now become a matter of national security,” he added, warning that external pressures, including attempts to use water as a strategic tool, had further heightened vulnerabilities.

Iqbal stressed that Pakistan’s response must be “national, united, scientific and future-proof”, identifying key pillars of a multi-dimensional strategy. Highlighting limited storage capacity as a major concern, he noted that Pakistan could store water for only around 90 days, far below global benchmarks.

He called for a national agreement on expanding water reservoirs through large, medium and small dams, recharge and delay-action dams, floodwater reservoirs, hill torrent management and urban rainwater harvesting. “New water reserves should be seen as the foundation of national survival, not political debate,” he said.

On water use efficiency, the minister pointed out that agriculture consumed the bulk of water but with low productivity due to outdated irrigation practices. He proposed a national water efficiency and conservation mission, including modernisation of irrigation systems, laser land levelling, drip and sprinkler technologies, digital irrigation, wastewater recycling and transparent water accounting.

“We must adopt the principle of more value per drop,” he said, linking water-use reforms with crop patterns, subsidies and pricing policies. The minister also flagged the unchecked exploitation of groundwater, describing it as a “silent lifeline” under threat.

He called for a national groundwater governance framework encompassing aquifer mapping, recharge systems, regulation of extraction, solar tube-well management and community-based conservation. “The falling water table and rising pollution are creating a silent storm beneath our feet,” he warned.

Underscoring the role of technology, Iqbal stressed the need to transition towards data-driven water management. He proposed real-time telemetry, satellite monitoring, artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, smart metering, flood modelling and early warning systems.

“Pakistan needs a reliable, real-time national water information system to guide decisions on river flows, groundwater levels, reservoirs and climate risks,” he said. He highlighted climate resilience as a key pillar, calling for improved preparedness against droughts, glacier melt and hill torrents, along with better drainage systems.