Himalaya areas in Pakistan, three other countries face rising water insecurity, reveals new research.

KARACHI -- A new study covering 13 towns across four countries - Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal- in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region shows that the Himalayan towns are facing increased water insecurity in the wake of inadequate urban planning coupled with a rapidly changing climate. The study is based on the findings of a research project undertaken by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Nepal and partner organizations. This study is the first-of-its-kind on the HKH region that shows that the interlinkages of water availability, water supply systems, rapid urbanization, and consequent increase in water demand (both daily and seasonal) are leading to increasing water insecurity in towns in the HKH region.

This water insecurity is attributed to poor water governance, lack of urban planning, poor tourism management during peak season, and climate-related risks and challenges. The study also shows that communities are coping through short-term strategies such as groundwater extraction, which is proving to be unsustainable. There is a lack of long-term strategies for water sustainability in urban centres, and this requires the special attention of planners and local governments. The study suggests that urbanization has pulled people...