According to the United Nations' "UN World Water Development Report", the total actual renewable water resources increased from 2,961 m³ per capita in 2000.[1] A more recent study indicates an available supply of water of little more than 1,000 m³ per person, which puts Pakistan in the category of a high stress country. Using data from the Pakistani federal government's Planning and Development Division, the overall water availability has decreased from 1,299 m³ per capita in 1996-97 to 1,101 m³ per capita in 2004-05.[2] In view ofgrowing population,urbanization and increasedindustrialization, the situation is likely to get worse.[3] Nevertheless, excessive mining of groundwater goes on. Despite a loweringwater table, the annual growth rate of electrictubewells has been indicated to 6.7% and for diesel tubewells to about 7.4%.[4] In addition, increasing pollution andsaltwater intrusion threaten the country's water resources. About 36% of thegroundwater is classified as highly saline.[5]
In urban areas, most water is supplied from groundwater except for the cities of Karachi, and a part of Islamabad, where mainly surface water is used. In most rural areas, groundwater is used. In rural areas with saline groundwater, irrigation canals serve as the main source of domestic water.[6]
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Out of the 169,384 billion m³ of water which were withdrawn in 2000, 96% were used for agricultural purposes, leaving 2% for domestic and another 2% for industrial use.[7] By far most water is used forirrigated agriculture, emphasizing the particular significance of agriculture in the country. The sector contributes about 25% of the Pakistan'sGNP (2000-2001).[8] The country still has the world's largest contiguous irrigation system.[9] In 1999-2000, the total irrigated area in Pakistan was 181,000 km².[10]
Water is also essential forpower generation in Pakistan, since about 29% is generated throughhydropower.[11]
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