Sherry Rehman calls for combating ‘Water Crisis’

ISLAMABAD
Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change Sherry Rehman on Friday expressed concern over Pakistan’s severe water crisis, ranking third globally and urged urgent steps including rainwater harvesting, forest protection, small dams, water recycling and modern weather alert systems, to address climate change impacts.
In an exclusive conversation with a local news channel, the Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee called for a robust and coordinated response to Pakistan’s escalating water crisis. Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, she stated that according to World Bank and IMF reports, Pakistan ranks among the top three countries most at risk of water scarcity and warned that the problem will worsen if provincial and national governments fail to act in unison.
She urged a shift from reactive to proactive water governance, highlighting the need for stronger institutional coordination between federal and provincial authorities. Rehman outlined several key strategies to address the crisis, including widespread rainwater harvesting initiatives, construction of small and medium-sized dams, rehabilitation of outdated irrigation infrastructure and the promotion of water-efficient farming techniques.
She also stressed the importance of forest conservation and the use of climate-smart technologies such as early weather warning systems and real-time water monitoring. Rehman added that without a unified approach backed by political will, the water crisis could become a full-blown national emergency, threatening livelihoods, agriculture and overall climate resilience.
Responding to a query, she mentioned that the Senate Standing Committee has held several meetings with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to review early warning systems and preparedness measures. She expressed concern over the lack of timely alerts and stressed the need to enhance forecasting technologies and coordination between departments.
Rehman also called for strict anti-encroachment measures, particularly near riverbanks and hotels built in ecologically sensitive areas, warning that such developments increase the risk of flooding and environmental degradation. She reiterated that climate resilience demands not only policy reform but enforcement and local accountability.