Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a comprehensive strategy to tackle Water Scarcity across the province. The plan focuses on protecting water resources, improving irrigation systems and increasing groundwater reserves to support agriculture and long-term food security.
The announcement was made during a meeting on the transformation of agriculture and water management. The chief minister said water conservation remains one of the government’s highest priorities. She stressed that sustainable farming depends on efficient use of available water resources.
Officials briefed the meeting on several ongoing and future projects. They said 110 mini dams have already been completed across Punjab. These projects are designed to store rainwater and support farming in areas that depend on rainfall.
The government also plans to build 800 more mini dams over the next three years in the Potohar region. The new projects are expected to create a storage capacity of nearly 32,000 acre-feet of water. Officials believe this will help reduce Water Scarcity in rain-fed areas while improving groundwater recharge.
Maryam Nawaz directed relevant departments to prepare a detailed plan for modern and secure surface water reservoirs. She said developed countries protect every available water source and Punjab should adopt similar practices to strengthen water management.
The chief minister also instructed the Agriculture, Irrigation, Housing and Local Government departments to work under a single Water Security Framework. She said different departments should follow a unified strategy instead of working separately.
Officials informed the meeting that water losses remain a major challenge. Around 30 percent of water is lost during distribution. Another 25 percent is wasted during consumption. The government has ordered a practical plan to reduce these losses through better infrastructure and management.
The meeting was told that the lining of 2,600 watercourses has already been completed across nearly 7,000 kilometres. This work is expected to reduce water losses by around 20 percent and improve the efficiency of irrigation systems.
Over the next three years, another 4,500 watercourses covering approximately 11,500 kilometres will be rehabilitated and lined. Officials believe these improvements will increase water availability for farmers and help address Water Scarcity across agricultural regions.
The government has also expanded the use of modern irrigation technology. High-efficiency systems have already saved around 18,000 acre-feet of water while increasing agricultural productivity by up to 50 percent.
Authorities now plan to bring another 30,000 acres under drip and sprinkler irrigation systems during the next three years. These systems use less water and improve crop yields compared to traditional irrigation methods.
Groundwater conservation was another key topic during the meeting. Officials said 100 recharge wells are already operational in the Gujranwala, Gujrat and Lahore divisions. Another 300 recharge wells are close to completion.
The provincial government also decided to strengthen laws related to groundwater conservation. Dedicated staff will be deployed to monitor water conservation efforts and ensure better implementation of the new strategy.
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Officials said these measures are intended to improve water security, strengthen agriculture and reduce Water Scarcity across Punjab in the coming years.
