THE PAKISTAN WATER VISION 2025 

2.1       Background

The Water Vision for Pakistan, as prepared through a process of Consultation, by the Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP) has been presented in the Pakistan Country Report: Vision for Water for the 21st Century, (First Draft); June 15, 1999.

No separate document specific to the year 2025 has been developed for the Pakistan Water Vision which could be taken into account for the formulation of the Framework for Action'. However the GWP-SASTAC, in close collaboration with the respective Country Water Partnerships, has developed the South Asia Regional Water Vision 2025 (Draft) July, 1999 (SARWV) which contains the common and country specific vision elements, the major drivers and the country scenarios. Reference to these has therefore, been made in the Pakistan context, and also to the 'Components of Pakistan's Vision Statement' in the Country Report, as a foundation for the FFA. 

2.2 The Drivers

The major drivers, as given in the SARWV, which are also common to Pakistan are:

• Demographic
• Technological
• Economic
• Social
• Environmental
• Governance

2.2.1 Key Drivers in Pakistan

The ways the Key Drivers have been identified in the Pakistan Country Report on Vision for Water for the 21st Century are reproduced below:

2.2.1.1 Population Growth

The growth in population is one of the principal driving forces for change in Pakistan as it directly impacts the demand for water for domestic purposes and for food production, etc. The population of Pakistan was estimated at 139 million at the beginning of 1998. The current growth rate is estimated at 2.7 percent and is one of the highest in the region. In 1951, the growth rate of population was 1.79 percent and during 1972- 73 reached 3.69 percent. Followed by a declining trend, it is estimated to have decelerated to 2.77 percent in 1997 and to 2.7 percent in 1998. This population growth rate is projected to decrease to 2.5 percent by 2003. Projection of future population growth have been made by the National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) and on the assumption of a gradually declining growth rate of 1.15 percent by 2025, a population of 208 million is projected by the year 2025. About 50% of this population is expected to be living in the urban areas and the rest in the rural areas.