Karachi Water Crisis: Pakistan’s financial capital Karachi is facing a severe water shortage, with nearly 70 per cent of the city’s population reportedly experiencing frequent supply disruptions amid soaring
temperatures.
The water crisis comes at a time when the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan remains in abeyance for more than a year, adding to broader concerns over water availability in Pakistan.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered in 1960, governs the sharing of waters of the Indus river system between India and Pakistan. Under the treaty, India received unrestricted rights over the eastern rivers while Pakistan received primary rights over the western rivers- the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
However, in the aftermath of Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam terror attack which claimed the lives of at least 26 tourists, Indian announced to put Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
The crisis, however, is not new. According to a report in Asia News Network, Karachi’s water shortages stem from decades of rapid population growth, ageing pipelines, poor urban planning, water theft and delayed infrastructure projects.
According to ARY News, residents across several parts of the city have been forced to rely on expensive private water tankers as regular supplies remain disrupted. Areas including Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Azizabad, Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad and North Karachi have reportedly faced acute shortages for more than two weeks.
The issue has also sparked a political row. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman accused the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led Sindh government of failing to address Karachi’s chronic water shortages despite being in power in the province for nearly two decades.
Speaking to journalists during Eid-ul-Adha celebrations, Rehman said thousands of residents were struggling to access basic necessities. He blamed the PPP-led Sindh government for failing to deliver essential public services and questioned why Karachi’s water woes remained unresolved despite the party’s 18-year rule in the province.
Naeem further lashed out at the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, claiming that the authority had failed to ensure proper sanitation and disposal of sacrificial animal waste despite receiving a massive budget.
He also rejected the claims by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab that the city was not facing a shortage.
Karachi currently requires over 1,080 million gallons of water daily for its nearly 30 million residents but faces a daily shortfall of over 400 million gallons, according to the ARY News report.
The city depends on sources including Keenjhar Lake, Haleji Lake, Hub Dam and Dumlottee wells, but supply has failed to keep pace with rising demand.
The situation has worsened due to leaks, illegal hydrants and the widespread use of suction pumps that disrupt equitable distribution. Organised tanker operators and illegal water connections have also created what many residents describe as a parallel “water mafia” economy.
With temperatures continuing to rise and demand increasing during the summer months, the water shortage has become one of the most pressing civic challenges facing Karachi.
