This paper gives an overview of the human and social dimensions of
Pakistan’s water policies to provide the basis for water-related policy
interventions that contribute to the country’s human development, with special
attention being given to the concerns of women and the poor. While Pakistan may
not be a water-scarce country, water stress, poor water quality, and
inequitable access to water adversely affect large portions of the population.
Considerably less water is available in Balochistan and Sindh. This is also the
case for people at the tail end of the irrigation distribution system, and for
the poor. Though women have a distinct role in water management for domestic
and productive purposes, they are hardly represented in user groups. This
suggests that water management, rather than water availability, is at the core
of Pakistan’s water crisis. The unequal distribution, coupled with population
pressure, rapid urbanisation, and increasing industrialisation, poses a serious
challenge to water management in Pakistan in the 21st century.