Pakistan targets 33% cut in water losses by 2030

September 10, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan has set an ambitious target to reduce water conveyance losses by 33% by 2030 as the country battles a deadly flood crisis that has claimed lives and destroyed property across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces.

The water loss reduction target was revealed during high-level talks between Federal Minister Muhammad Mueen Wattoo and World Bank Regional Director Meskerem Brhane, who focused on strengthening collaboration to tackle the dual challenges of devastating floods and severe water scarcity. 

Ms. Brhane opened discussions by expressing condolences over the recent flood casualties in KP and Punjab, emphasising the urgent need for integrated water resources management and improved land use planning to prevent future disasters.

"Effective coordination between federal and provincial governments is essential, and MoWR is well positioned to lead this effort," Brhane stated during the meeting.

The Ministry presented its National Flood Protection Plan IV, which includes comprehensive technical and non-technical interventions that align with the World Bank's Pakistan Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2026-2035.

Climate resilience and flood protection are core objectives of the new framework, making Pakistan's plan a potential candidate for World Bank support.

A critical focus of the discussions was Pakistan's agricultural water productivity crisis.

The Additional Secretary of MoWR highlighted the National Water Policy's ambitious target of reducing water conveyance losses by 33% by 2030, a goal essential for long-term food security.

Currently, Pakistan faces severe challenges in water use efficiency, threatening both agricultural output and food security as the country grapples with a growing population and changing climate patterns.

Both institutions emphasized the need for significant investment in water resource measurement and consolidated project monitoring.

Plans include creating a publicly accessible, data-driven platform to track progress nationwide, identify gaps, and improve overall water resource management.

The World Bank and Pakistan's Ministry of Water Resources agreed to hold follow-up discussions to identify practical solutions in infrastructure, management, and governance that can enhance water conveyance efficiency and service reliability.

The meeting included senior officials from both sides, with the World Bank delegation comprising water resources specialists Bekele Debele Negewo, Francois Onimus, and Basharat Saeed.

Pakistan's water sector faces unprecedented challenges, with experts warning that the country is rapidly approaching absolute water scarcity while simultaneously dealing with increasingly frequent and severe flooding events linked to climate change.

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