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CSR

Enhancing Water Management

Pakistan’s water future will depend not on the quantity of water it possesses, but on the efficacy of its management of existing water resources

By Namwar Yusuf Rahman | April 2026
Enhancing Water

The Water Moisture Sensor monitors moisture levels and conducts irrigation accordingly

Each year, World Water Day revives a familiar debate in Pakistan: are we running out of water? The more pressing question, however, is not one of availability but of water mismanagement. Across sectors, inefficient use, poor governance, and lack of long-term planning continue to define how water is handled in the country.

Pakistan’s economic structure makes this challenge particularly acute. Agriculture remains the largest consumer of water, yet it is also where inefficiencies are most visible. Traditional irrigation methods, especially flood irrigation, dominate farming practices, leading to excessive losses through evaporation and runoff. Despite decades of discussion, the shift towards modern irrigation techniques has been slow, constrained by cost, awareness, and policy gaps. The result is a system where water is heavily used but not effectively managed.

Urbanisation and industrial expansion have further complicated the picture. Growing cities require more water for domestic use, while industries depend on it for manufacturing processes. Yet wastewater treatment remains inadequate. Industrial discharge continues to pollute rivers and groundwater, reducing water quality and limiting its reuse. Climate change has added urgency to these challenges, altering rainfall patterns and increasing variability in water flows. But even here, the underlying issue remains one of management rather than absolute shortage.

Addressing this problem requires more than infrastructure projects or short-term fixes. It calls for a shift in how water is valued and governed — from a largely unregulated resource to one that is managed efficiently and responsibly. While the role of the state is central in setting policy and enforcing regulation, the private sector has increasingly emerged as an important part of the solution.

Businesses, particularly large-scale manufacturers, have both the incentive and the capacity to improve water use. Efficient water management reduces operational risks and ensures continuity in resource-constrained environments. As a result, many companies are investing in water-saving technologies, recycling systems, and process improvements that reduce waste. Some are also extending these efforts beyond their operations, working with farmers and suppliers to promote more efficient irrigation practices.


A significant development in this regard has been the adoption of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard, a global framework that encourages responsible water management at both site and catchment levels. Unlike traditional compliance-based approaches, the AWS Standard requires companies to consider the broader water ecosystem, including local communities and shared resources. It emphasises transparency, stakeholder engagement, and collective action — elements often missing in conventional water management strategies.

In Pakistan, organisations, specifically Nestlé Pakistan, have played a leading role in introducing and implementing this framework. In 2017, its Sheikhupura facility became the first site in the country — and the first within Nestlé globally — to achieve AWS certification. This was not merely a symbolic achievement; it signalled the possibility of aligning Pakistan›s industrial practices with international sustainability standards.

Since then, the company has expanded certification across all its manufacturing facilities, becoming the first Nestlé market worldwide to have all its sites certified under the AWS Standard. More importantly, these certifications have been accompanied by measurable improvements in water management. The company has reduced water use in its operations, increased recycling, and invested in initiatives to restore water balance.

Other companies have begun to follow this lead, though at a more gradual pace. Interloop, Engro Fertilizers Limited, and GSK have adopted the AWS framework for their operations. These developments suggest a growing recognition within the private sector that water stewardship is integral to long-term sustainability. However, adoption remains limited, and scaling such practices across industries remains a challenge.

The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard serves as an international framework that promotes responsible water management practices at both localized sites and catchment areas

The broader lesson is clear: Pakistan’s water issue cannot be fixed by supply-side solutions alone. Building more dams or extracting more groundwater won’t solve the inefficiencies built into the system. Instead, what’s needed is a fundamental shift towards better management — one that integrates policy, technology, and behavioural change.

This is where collaboration becomes critical. Government institutions must strengthen regulatory frameworks and ensure enforcement, while the private sector must continue to invest in sustainable practices and transparent reporting. At the same time, communities and civil society must be engaged as active stakeholders in managing shared water resources.

Pakistan’s water future will depend not on how much water it has, but on how effectively it manages what it already possesses. The challenge now is to move from isolated examples to widespread change — before mismanagement places even greater strain on the system.

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