ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has emerged as the 14th most water-scarce country in the world, with shrinking freshwater resources posing a serious threat to agricultural productivity, food security and long-term economic stability.
A report titled “Sustainable Agriculture in Pakistan: Can Pakistan Meet Its Future Food Requirements?” by Ampic Strategies says unsustainable farming practices, coupled with decades of weak governance and poor policy implementation, have pushed the country’s agriculture sector into a deepening crisis.
It says that excessive irrigation, continuous monocropping and the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have degraded soil quality, reduced crop yields and inflicted widespread environmental damage.
The report argues that blaming climate change alone for Pakistan’s agricultural challenges overlooks the structural weaknesses that have accumulated over the years.
It identifies inefficient irrigation systems, declining soil fertility, excessive chemical inputs and weak enforcement of agricultural policies as key factors exacerbating the impact of floods, droughts and heatwaves.
According to the report, Pakistan’s per capita availability of renewable freshwater has fallen dramatically from around 5,260 cubic metres in 1951 to below 1,000 cubic metres, placing the country in the category of severe water stress.
With nearly 90 percent of the country’s agriculture relying on the Indus Basin irrigation system, the report warns that increasing pressure on limited water resources could further undermine food production and rural livelihoods.
As a solution, the report emphasizes effective implementation of existing policies rather than introducing new legislation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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