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Pakistans Urban Water Challenges and Prospects

Author

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  • Nazam Maqbool

    (Pakistan Institute of Development Economics)

Abstract

Cities in Pakistan are increasingly faced with problems of erratic supply of piped water and unsafe and declining levels of groundwater. Additionally, over one-third (35 to 40 percent) of piped water is wasted through leakages and theft in the water distribution networks.[1] By 2050, the country’s urban population is expected to double in size (from 81 million in 2022 to 160 million in 2050 or from 37.7 percent of the total population to 52.2 percent) (see table 1). Providing water for these citizens is a challenging task; finding money to pay for the provision of that water is at least as daunting. Urban water tariffs are low and infrequently adjusted, even with current efforts at reform.

Suggested Citation

  • Nazam Maqbool, 2024. "Pakistans Urban Water Challenges and Prospects," PIDE Knowledge Brief 2024:115, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pid:kbrief:2024:115
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chunyang He & Zhifeng Liu & Jianguo Wu & Xinhao Pan & Zihang Fang & Jingwei Li & Brett A. Bryan, 2021. "Future global urban water scarcity and potential solutions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Khan, Muhammad Muneeb & Sarwar, Muhammad Kaleem & Rashid, Muhammad & Asif, Muhammad Sayyam & Haider, Saif, 2026. "Assessment of optimization scenarios using WEAP model for irrigation water management: A case study of Jhelum-Chenab command irrigation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 330(C).
    2. Muhammad Umer Farooq Shah,Fayaz Ahmad Khan,Afed Ullah Khan,Saqib Mahmood, 2025. "Reuse of Ablution Water for Landscaping in Hayatabad Peshawar - A Step Towards Climate Change Adaptation," International Journal of Innovations in Science & Technology, 50sea, vol. 7(3), pages 1466-1474, July.

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