Balochistan turns to tech for water security | The Express Tribune

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and driest province, is racing to modernise its water management systems amid groundwater depletion, erratic rainfall and rising climate stress. With 75% of its population living in rural areas and dependent on agriculture, chronic water scarcity now threatens livelihoods and long-term socioeconomic stability.

Arid conditions dominate the province, where only 7.2% of land is cultivated and most districts rely almost entirely on groundwater. Years of over-extraction, deterioration of traditional karez systems and limited surface water storage have worsened the crisis. Climate variability, prolonged droughts, flash floods and unpredictable rainfall have further strained an already fragile system.

To address these challenges, the provincial government, with financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction and the High-Level Technology Fund, has launched the Balochistan Water Resources Development Project. The initiative blends new infrastructure with digital technologies to support climate-smart, data-driven water governance.

Central to the reforms is the Balochistan Water Resources Information System (BWRIS), a satellite-supported platform in Quetta. The system integrates hydrological, meteorological and remote-sensing data into a secure GIS platform that provides real-time information on groundwater, surface water and climate conditions. Officials say the platform is designed to support evidence-based decision-making, improve irrigation scheduling, and strengthen drought risk assessments across the province.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Muhammad Arshad, Deputy Country Representative of IWMI in Quetta, said groundwater depletion remains the most urgent challenge. Except for Nasirabad and Jafarabad, the rest of the province depends entirely on groundwater, making recharge essential. The rapid spread of subsidised solar panels has unintentionally intensified extraction. “People now pump water for 12 hours a day. Previously, load shedding limited extraction to three or four hours. With no regulation and no implementation, the problem is worsening,” he said. He said 10 of 18 river basins face severe decline, driven by severe water-intensive practices such as flood irrigation. He recommended precise water-flow measurement, soil moisture sensors at farm level and a strong digital regulatory framework to monitor depletion and forecast needs.

A crucial step toward improved governance is the Balochistan Integrated Water Resource Management Policy 2024, which aims to shift the province toward a low-water economy. The forthcoming Balochistan Water Act, developed with the FAO and World Bank, has been approved by the provincial cabinet and is expected to introduce a regulatory framework for equitable allocation and responsible use of water.

Experts say improved groundwater recharge is critical. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) techniques could help harvest floodwater through infiltration wells, riverbed interception structures, and recharge ditches. Although more than 300 Delay Action Dams constructed in past decades suffered from sedimentation issues, specialists argue that modified designs combined with catchment-specific watershed management can revive their utility. Research has identified high MAR potential in basins such as Poralai and Hingol.

Balochistan’s harsh climate complicates recovery. With annual rainfall around 250mm and evaporation above 1,500mm, losses far exceed replenishment. Dr Arshad said small underground structures often outperform large surface dams, which quickly fill with sediment. Meanwhile, rapid depletion has created space for a thriving tanker water market, especially in Quetta, where prices range from Rs1,500 to Rs3,000 per tanker and rise to Rs5,000 in summer. The lack of rainfall since 2023 has worsened shortages and accelerated migration to urban areas, further straining civic systems.

Under the ADB-supported project, Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) have strengthened BWRIS, feeding real-time data on temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind. This information helps farmers plan planting and supports government decisions.