LAHORE:
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the government to immediately launch a nationwide programme for constructing rainwater harvesting dams to shield Pakistan from recurring floods and looming droughts.
In a statement on Wednesday, LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, Senior Vice President Engineer Khalid Usman, and Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhry said Pakistan is among the most water-stressed countries in the world. Per capita water availability has plunged from 5,600 cubic meters in 1951 to just 860 cubic meters in 2025, far below the international scarcity threshold.
They noted that every year billions of cubic meters of rainwater flow into the sea, while droughts grip arid regions. This dual challenge of floods and shortages is a national tragedy that must be met with urgent, cost-effective solutions.
Shad said rainwater harvesting dams are the most immediate and viable solution to protect Pakistan from water insecurity and climate shocks. He recalled that the 2022 floods caused losses of over $30 billion and displaced 33 million people, while the 2025 floods have already killed hundreds and destroyed land, crops, and livestock worth billions. Without storage, he warned, the devastation will repeat every year.
The office-bearers proposed a sustainable national programme with Rs200-300 billion annual allocation under a public-private partnership, monitored through digital systems for transparency.
