Recent study indicates an available supply of water of little more than 1,000 m³ per person, which puts Pakistan in the category of a high stress country. Using data from the Pakistani federal government's Planning and Development Division, the overall water availability has decreased from 1,299 m³ per capita in 1996-97 to 1,101 m³ per capita in 2004-05.

In view of growing population, urbanization and increased industrialization, the situation is likely to get worse. Nevertheless, excessive mining of groundwater goes on. Despite a lowering water table, the annual growth rate of electric tube wells has been indicated to 6.7% and for diesel tube wells to about 7.4%. In addition, increasing pollution and salt water intrusion threaten the country's water resources. About 36% of the groundwater is classified as highly saline.

In urban areas, most water is supplied from groundwater except for the cities of Karachi, Hyderabad and a part of Islamabad, where mainly surface water is used. In most rural areas, groundwater is used. In rural areas with saline groundwater, irrigation canals serve as the main source of domestic water

Irrigation is central to Pakistan's economy. In the irrigation subsector, measures are expected to be taken to increase water availability, water reliability, equity of water distribution, and irrigation efficiency, to reduce water logging and salinity, to limit the over-exploitation of the fresh groundwater resources, and to improve cost recovery.

In a 1994 report, the World Bank proposed changing the Government's approach, and commercializing (in order to later privatize) all water services. The proposed strategy comprises:

Market-determined incentives for irrigation and on-farm drainage;

Establishment of Farmers Organizations; Drawing up enforceable property rights to water, the

first steps being the establishment of communal water rights, which would later be translated into enforceable individual rights;

Establishment on a canal command basis of public utilities responsible for operation and maintenance, cost recovery and future investment;

Legalization of water markets.

Gravity IrrigationOn the basis of gravity and slope

variationPressurized IrrigationDistribution of water through Pressure

Water scarcity, high pricingWater conflicts and disputesEvaporationInfiltration & seepage lossesWater loggingsalinty

Field MethodsDistributing water on land efficiently byattaining better soil moisture retention.

Management PracticesMonitor, Observe & determine soil, water

conditions. (types, w.c, rainfall

System ModificationsModifications and Replacements

ChiselingFurrow DikingLand Leveling, by Laser LevelsDry Land FarmingLand Retirement

Rainfall Measurements

Soil Moisture : T, H, Rsol, crop growth stage, soil texture, organic matter, root depth, w.c.

TDR, probes & tensiometers etc

Pump Efficiency, by volume, lift, energy consumed

Scheduling root saturation records, moisture change prediction with irrigation requirements.

Computer soft wares

Changes in existing Irrigation System

Adding drop tubes to a centre pivot Irrigation system

Retrofitting a well with a smaller pump

Replacement Irrigation Methods

Micro-Irrigation

Solid Set Irrigation

Tail Water Recovery

Low-pressure irrigation system with emitter devices that sprays, sprinkles or drips water into the crop fields

More than 90% irrigation efficiency.Hilly areas efficient also usedRelative saline water alos usable

Different shapes, types, materialAct as jetsDifferent mode of application.Drip and trickle (Drip Irrigation)Mist, spray and sprinkle (Micro

Sprinkler)

Drip IrrigationEmitters provide water in drip & trickle

form

Micro-sprinkler IrrigationEmitters provide water in sprinkle,

spray, jet,and mist form.

Modified Sprinkler IrrigationNetwork of pipes (metal, PVC,

polyethylene) as mains & laterals.Portable.Above and below the Ground

Surface irrigation methodSlopy Irrigation fieldsSeepage , Surface Drainage, and

surface water runoffRecollection of Water in stream, lake

or trenches20% increase in irrigation effeciency.

Water availabilityLand , Soil type and WeatherResources and economic ReturnsCrop

Gravity Flow Irrigation Cheapest, but with high water losses during irrigation

Pressurized Irrigation methods expensive with minimum water losses

Micro-Irrigation; very effective method to reduce water losses during irrigation

Best Possible Conservation Management

AND Best Available Irrigation

Techniques.