Water is the most basic requirement for life. Yet in Pakistan, ensuring access to clean and reliable water has rarely received the sustained attention it demands from federal or provincial governments. Across the country, there are areas where taps run dry for weeks. When water does return, it is often unsafe for consumption, forcing residents to depend on costly alternatives or take risks with their health. A recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), prepared in collaboration with the EU, underscores the gravity of the problem in Lahore. Titled ‘Urban Exclusion in Access to Water and Sanitation in Lahore’, the report makes clear that the city’s water crisis is no longer merely an infrastructure issue. It is increasingly a crisis of governance, accountability and human rights. The report exposes deep structural flaws in the planning and delivery of water, sewerage and drainage services in Pakistan’s second-largest city. A key factor is the absence of coordination among government bodies responsible for these services. Multiple departments operate with overlapping mandates but little cooperation, resulting in inefficiency and fragmented decision-making. The situation is further aggravated by the absence of a legislatively mandated local government system in Lahore, which leaves citizens with limited avenues for accountability or representation.
Warnings about Lahore’s water crisis are not new. Surveys and studies over the years have repeatedly pointed to contamination in the city’s water supply. Yet meaningful corrective action has remained limited. Rapid urbanisation and unchecked expansion have only deepened these structural weaknesses. City planning frequently ignores ecological balance and community needs, prioritising short-term growth over long-term sustainability. The consequences are now visible in recurring urban flooding, declining water quality and stark inequalities in access to sanitation. The HRCP report should therefore serve as a wake-up call. Addressing Lahore’s worsening water and sanitation situation requires more than piecemeal interventions. It demands a coordinated and rights-based approach to urban governance. Strengthening local government institutions must be central to this effort. Effective governance cannot remain concentrated in a few hands; meaningful delegation of authority is essential for responsive and accountable service delivery. At the same time, WASA Lahore must prioritise upgrading ageing infrastructure and improving maintenance to reduce contamination and water loss.
Urban planning reforms are equally critical. Institutions such as the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) must move towards water-sensitive development that incorporates rainwater harvesting and climate-resilient drainage systems. Such measures can help address both flooding and groundwater depletion, which increasingly threaten the city’s future. Equally important is recognising access to water and sanitation as a fundamental human right. Essential services should not be treated primarily as commodities available only to those who can afford them. Moving away from a purely user-pay approach is necessary to ensure equitable access for all residents. Lahore’s water crisis is not inevitable. It is the result of policy choices and governance failures that can still be corrected. With coordinated planning, institutional reform and a commitment to equitable access, the city can begin to build a more sustainable and inclusive urban water system.
