Advancing Urban Water Security in the Indus Basin, Pakistan—Priority Actions for Karachi and Lahore

Abstract

Despite growing recognition of solutions to water scarcity challenges, decision-makers across the world continue to face barriers to effective implementation of water planning, governance and management. This is evident in the cases of Lahore and Karachi in the Indus Basin in Pakistan and illustrated through the experiences of the provincial government departments and utilities. Water scarcity and associated challenges are continuing to impose significant costs on these cities, which continue to grow as water availability further declines, demand increases, water quality deteriorates, and infrastructure degrades. A team of Australian water experts was commissioned by the Australian Water Partnership to diagnose urban water challenges and identify priority actions for improved water security, in collaboration with Pakistani partners. This paper presents the outcomes of that work. This includes a synthesis of the published literature and data on the geographical, climatic, and water scarcity contexts of both Karachi and Lahore. It then identifies responses to water insecurity that have been considered or implemented in the past and the barriers that have inhibited the effectiveness of these efforts. Finally, it presents actions within five priority action areas that Pakistani stakeholders have identified as being most practical and impactful for improving water security outcomes.

Water sanitation in Karachi and its impact on health

“…Leakages, ineffective management, and lack of future planning are all serious obstacles faced by water sanitation services in Karachi. Numerous household and drinking water pipelines run parallel to sewage discharge pipelines and occasional leakages are caused by lack of regular cleaning, especially post monsoon season [ 10 ]. This has led to the bacterial contamination of an already scarce water supply, indicating poor management and incompetency of local authorities [ 10 ].…”

“…In addition to chemical contaminants, high levels of Escherichia coli (E.coli) were found in Karachi's water sources and the city's water was labelled as the most contaminated water in all of Sindh by Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources' (PCRWR) research teams [ 12 ]. This excessive contamination of groundwater means it requires treatment before it is safe for consumption and yet only 62% households receive water with any prior treatment while 1.91 of the 2.16 million cubic meters (mcm) of wastewater remains untreated on a daily basis [ 10 ]. Furthermore, many residents have complained that the water tastes salty or looks cloudy and have often found insects crawling in it.…”

Impact of Urbanization on Sanitation Management in Pakistan: The Case of Islamabad Capital Territory

“…The lack of funding can lead to inadequate sanitation infrastructure, such as lack of proper toilets and waste management systems, which can lead to health and environmental problems. The literature has also suggested that the government and international organizations have been working to address this issue by providing funding and assistance for sanitation projects, but more funding is needed to fully address the problem (Syvrud, et al, 2021). Additionally, the lack of proper sanitation facilities disproportionately affects the poor, women and children.…”

Quantifying Household Water Use and Its Determinants in Low-Income, Water-Scarce Households in Karachi

“…Each year, as summer approaches, the city starts facing conditions of acute scarcity [27]. With increased heat spells, there is an increased urban demand for water [28]. Studies of temporal dynamics of access and quality of water in urban slums of India [29], and water demand datasets from several cities across the globe [30], demonstrate that the consumption for water is highly dynamic across multiple timescales (sub-daily to seasonal changes).…”