Climate change and the Indus Basin: Rethinking water management strategies

Author: Ashraf, Muhammad

In the recent past, Pakistan has experienced unprecedented climate extreme events, including the historical flood of 2022 and recurring droughts like conditions in many parts of the country, particularly in Balochistan, southern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tharparkar, and coastal areas of Sindh.

Climate change is a slow, dynamic, and complex process affecting the entire water balance and ecosystem. Its most immediate victims are nature—flora, fauna, and the biodiversity responsible for regulating the ecosystem and providing essential ecosystem services. The other most affected species are livestock, followed by agriculture. Humans, though affected last, ultimately bear the consequences as they derive their entire livelihoods from the first two. Therefore, addressing the challenges of climate change requires a better understanding of water resources, especially their origin, availability across space and time, and usage across various sectors. Accordingly, adaptive planning and preparedness are essential, supported by evidence-based water resource assessments. This calls for a paradigm shift in thinking, planning, implementing (acting), and responding. The conventional “business as usual” approach has proven ineffective in the past and is unlikely to meet future challenges.

Contributing Programs: Policy Innovations; Climate Action