This is apropos a letter to the Editor titled “A growing challenge to water security” carried by the newspaper yesterday. One of the most pressing concerns, in my view, is the cascading effect of consecutive low-snow years. Reduced melt water not only limits immediate supply but also disrupts groundwater recharge and soil moisture levels.
This creates a dangerous feedback loop: each dry year compounds the severity of the next. In an agrarian economy like Pakistan’s, this translates directly into reduced crop yields, rising food prices, and increased rural distress. Hence, ICIMOD’s warning that “every dry spell will hit harder” should not be taken lightly.
Equally, concerning is the lack of coordinated water governance. Water allocation in Pakistan is often shaped by political considerations rather than scientific assessment. Provinces compete rather than collaborate, and institutional fragmentation weakens the overall response. The ICIMOD report’s call for coordinated efforts among agencies highlights a fundamental gap that must be addressed. Without integrated planning, even the best technical solutions can fail to deliver meaningful results.
Rashid Bhoon (Lahore)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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