Water scarcity is no longer just an environmental issue—it has become a social, economic, and gender equality challenge. Across the globe, women and girls collectively spend an astonishing 250 million hours every day collecting water, a burden that continues to limit opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic participation.
This alarming reality was highlighted during a high-level event in Islamabad, where leading United Nations agencies and Pakistani institutions launched three major publications focused on water security, sanitation, and climate resilience. The event, organized by UNESCO, WHO, UNICEF, and UNDP alongside national partners, reinforced the urgent need for gender-responsive solutions to address Pakistan’s worsening water crisis.
Women Bear the Hidden Cost of Water Scarcity
While water shortages affect entire communities, their impact is far from equal. In many households, women and girls are primarily responsible for securing water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation. Time spent fetching water often comes at the expense of school attendance, income-generating opportunities, and personal well-being.
The global theme of this year’s discussions, “Water and Gender,” emphasized how limited access to safe drinking water and sanitation reinforces existing inequalities. Experts stressed that improving water access is not only an infrastructure challenge but also a critical step toward empowering women and achieving sustainable development.
Billions Worldwide Still Lack Safe Water and Sanitation
The newly released UN World Water Development Report 2026 paints a concerning picture of global water access.
According to the report:
- 2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water services.
- 3.4 billion people do not have access to safely managed sanitation.
- 1.7 billion people remain without basic hygiene facilities at home.
These figures demonstrate that despite decades of progress, water insecurity continues to affect a significant portion of the world’s population.
Pakistan Faces Escalating Water Stress
Pakistan’s water situation is becoming increasingly critical. Current estimates indicate that approximately 55% of Pakistan’s population lacks access to safely managed drinking water, while more than 58% of rural residents do not have safely managed sanitation services.
During the Islamabad event, Federal Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo highlighted the severity of the challenge. He noted that at the time of Pakistan’s independence, each citizen had access to more than 5,000 cubic meters of freshwater annually. Today, that figure has dropped below 1,000 cubic meters, placing the country among the world’s most water-stressed nations.
Rapid population growth, climate change, groundwater depletion, and inefficient water management are intensifying pressure on already limited resources.
Climate Change Is Worsening Water Security Risks
Experts at the event emphasized that climate change is accelerating water-related challenges across Pakistan. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, glacial melting, and extreme weather events are making water availability increasingly unpredictable.
The growing overlap between climate vulnerability and water insecurity is creating serious risks for agriculture, public health, food security, and economic development.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya stressed the importance of developing practical and inclusive solutions rooted in local knowledge and community participation.
WASH Funding Faces New Challenges
The latest UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) 2025 Report revealed mixed progress regarding investments in Pakistan’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
While combined WASH budgets across Pakistan’s provinces and Islamabad increased from 225 billion Pakistani rupees in 2022 to 265 billion rupees in 2024, inflation significantly reduced the actual value of those investments. In real terms, funding declined by approximately 20%, limiting the country’s ability to expand critical water and sanitation infrastructure.
Urban areas are experiencing widening investment gaps, creating additional challenges for rapidly growing cities already struggling with water shortages.
Bridging Science and Policy for Water Security
Recognizing the need for evidence-based decision-making, UNESCO and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources introduced new Science Policy Practice Interface (SSPI) Guidelines aimed at strengthening collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and water management practitioners.
The initiative seeks to ensure that scientific research translates into practical policies capable of improving water governance, climate adaptation, and resource management.
Experts argue that stronger cooperation between research institutions, government agencies, and development organizations is essential to achieving long-term water security.
Building a Gender-Responsive Water Future
A high-level roundtable featuring representatives from UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, academia, and climate research institutions explored strategies for addressing interconnected challenges related to water security, social inclusion, and climate resilience.
Participants highlighted several priorities:
- Strengthening science-based policymaking.
- Expanding climate-resilient water infrastructure.
- Improving water governance systems.
- Increasing cooperation among institutions.
- Promoting women’s participation in water-related decision-making.
Experts agreed that sustainable solutions must place women at the center of water governance, ensuring their voices are represented in planning, policy development, and resource management.
The Road Ahead
Pakistan’s water crisis is no longer a future threat—it is a present-day reality affecting millions of people. As water resources continue to decline and climate pressures intensify, the need for inclusive and innovative solutions has never been greater.
Addressing water insecurity requires more than infrastructure investments. It demands stronger governance, science-driven policies, climate adaptation strategies, and a commitment to gender equality. By empowering women, investing in sustainable water management, and strengthening collaboration across sectors, Pakistan can move closer to achieving long-term water security and fulfilling Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All.
