Water experts have warned that uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is increasing reliance on groundwater in South Punjab, driving up irrigation costs and posing growing risks to agriculture and long-term water security. Experts said farmers were increasingly turning to tubewells to compensate for shortages in canal supplies, placing additional pressure on already overstretched aquifers. While the Indus Waters Treaty governs the sharing of surface waters between Pakistan and India, groundwater resources are not covered by the agreement.
Groundwater Extraction in Punjab Reaches Critical Levels
According to water specialists, Punjab extracts more than 51 million acre-feet of groundwater annually, making Pakistan one of the world’s largest users of groundwater. They said water tables in many parts of the province were falling by two to three feet each year, while some urban areas were recording annual declines of more than 2.5 feet. They also referred to research identifying the Indus Basin aquifer as one of the world’s most heavily stressed groundwater systems, with water extraction exceeding natural recharge from rainfall and river flows.
Impact on Cotton and Wheat Belt
The declining water table is having a pronounced impact on South Punjab’s cotton and wheat-growing belt, where farmers say they are being forced to drill deeper tubewells and operate pumps for longer periods, significantly increasing diesel and electricity costs. Agricultural experts warned that higher irrigation costs, combined with unreliable water supplies, could reduce crop yields and accelerate soil degradation. They said cotton, wheat and vegetable cultivation in districts including Multan, Muzaffargarh and Khanewal was already coming under increasing pressure.
Rural Communities Face Water Shortages and Saline Intrusion
The groundwater crisis is also affecting rural communities. Experts said the cost of installing and operating tubewells has risen sharply over the past decade, while villages dependent on hand pumps and shallow wells face a growing risk of water shortages and saline intrusion. They further warned that Pakistan’s continued production and export of water-intensive crops, including rice and sugar, places additional strain on the country’s groundwater resources, raising concerns about long-term water sustainability and food security.
Farmers Share Their Experiences
Laique Sheikhana, a landowner from Multan, said groundwater levels had fallen markedly in recent years. “Tubewells that once required drilling to depths of 80 to 100 feet now have to go much deeper before water is found, adding substantial costs even before cultivation begins,” he said. Another farmer, Malik Akram, said declining groundwater levels had increased pumping hours and fuel costs, forcing many small-scale farmers to borrow money to keep their tubewells operational during the cropping season.
Call for International Support
Farmers urged the United Nations, the World Bank and other international organisations to play a role in supporting the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, arguing that growing pressure on groundwater resources was placing an increasing financial burden on Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
