Human survival depends on water. It is a basic necessity that supports ecosystems, economies, livelihoods, and health worldwide. Globally, the importance of equitable and sustainable access to clean water has grown due to the increasing water stress caused by climate change, rapid urbanization, and population growth. Nearly 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to safely managed drinking water services, according to the UN. This global crisis is reflected acutely in Jacobabad, one of the hottest cities on Earth, where thousands of residents struggle daily to secure safe and sufficient water.
Jacobabad is a city in the north of Sindh, Pakistan. Formerly, it was also known as Khangarh. This city was founded by John Jacob in 1847. The city area is 664 km², with a population of 0.5 million people (2023 Census). 49% of the population lives in urban areas, while 51% reside in rural areas. The city shares its boundaries with Balochistan (Sindh-Balochistan Borderline), which plays a crucial role in terms of trade and connectivity.
Despite its importance, this city faces numerous challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, harsh climate, educational & health crisis, and limited access to fundamental needs/services like the water supply system. These factors push this city backwards day by day and have an impact on the quality of life for its residents. The water crisis in Jacobabad is a silent emergency that demands urgent attention from both policymakers and the public.
Jacobabad is renowned for its extreme heat, often ranking among the hottest cities in the world. The highest recorded temperature is 53°C. It has been cited as the most vulnerable city to global warming. Here, the little shift in temperature can be the cause of death. In this environment, a reliable water supply is not just a necessity but a vital factor for survival. The scorching heat waves, and extreme temperatures foster the risks of dehydration and heat-related illness. This city is facing multiple challenges in maintaining its adequate water supply infrastructure.
Historically, Jacobabad’s water supply system has undergone numerous changes since its foundation in 1847. This city has experienced various water supply initiatives, each with different degrees of success and longevity. Initially, Mr. Jacob made reservoirs and brought water from the Indus River through canals. Jacob’s scheme ran successfully until the 1950s, fulfilling residents’ water demands. After Jacob, every successive government gave different schemes, which benefited only the politicians in power and the bureaucrats.
In the 1960s, Ayub’s administration introduced a new water supply scheme for Jacobabad. After a few years, this scheme became nonfunctional for some reason. In the 1970s, Z.A. Bhutto visited Jacobabad and pledged to renew the city’s water supply system, but this could not happen. However, in 2005, another water scheme was inaugurated by General Pervez Musharraf, which was functional for up to three years.
This scheme was then handed over to the city’s municipal committee, but they couldn’t run it due to a lack of resources and technical staff. After these various changes in Jacobabad’s water supply system, a significant development occurred in 2012. The “Jacobabad Water Supply and Drainage System” scheme was introduced under USAID, with funding of $36.7 million. This project aimed to provide purified drinking water for 0.3 million residents and improve the city’s drainage system. Jacobabad’s water system also suffered heavy damage in the 2010 floods, which killed almost 1,800 and affected 21 million.
Despite all these developments in the water supply system, this system does not meet the city’s demand. Residents are still facing challenges regarding the supply of water and water quality. In the acute water shortage, people of Jacobabad get potable water from donkey cart vendors who fetch the water from nearby areas and sell water cans at different prices.
According to the 2023 Census, Jacobabad Taluka has around 33,765 households living in urban areas. Out of these, 6,993 households depend on tap water as their main source of drinking water, while a slightly larger number, about 8,156, rely on motor pumps. Only 37 households still use dug wells, showing how rare that traditional method has become. A small group of 76 households have access to water through filtration plants, and around 4,316 households purchase bottled water to meet their daily needs. These numbers reveal a mixed picture of drinking water access in the city. Some households benefit from improved sources, while many others continue to rely on costly or outdated methods. The heavy dependence on motor pumps and bottled water also highlights the ongoing gaps in the public water infrastructure, which still fails to deliver clean, treated water to a large part of the urban population.
Today, Jacobabad’s water supply system reflects significant developments and setbacks. The USAID water supply scheme was launched in 2012 to meet the city’s growing water demands. This project aimed to provide 1.5 mgd (5.7 million liters) of purified water to 350,000 residents by pumping water from a canal located 22 km (14 miles) away. However, in 2025, Trump’s USAID aid cut blocked $1.5 million for the project’s continued operations, threatening the entire project infrastructure, leaving the community vulnerable in the sweltering Jacobabad. This has led to the suspension of technical support and maintenance, which are crucial for the project’s functioning. HANDS, a non-profit organization, are overseeing this project. HANDS’s CEO, Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed, said, “Since everything is just suspended, we have to withdraw our staff, and the project will likely cease functioning within a few months.”
According to the SFERP’s Environmental and Social Screening Report (ESSR) 2024 for District Jacobabad, Taluka Jacobabad comprises nine water supply schemes aimed at addressing the rising demand for safe drinking water. These schemes are projected to serve around 66,961 individuals in their first year of operation in 2025. With a standardized per capita water demand of 11 UK gallons per capita per day (UKGPCD), the total water demand for Taluka Jacobabad in 2025 is estimated at 0.737 million gallons per day (MGD). While these schemes reflect important steps toward meeting local needs, their scale remains modest when compared to the larger population of Jacobabad, which exceeds one million. Therefore, despite new interventions, the gap between water demand and available supply remains a critical concern for the city.
Aside from these schemes, many residents purchase water from donkey carts and private suppliers at exorbitant prices, jeopardizing both their health and finances. They charge ten times more than the local water services. Purchasing water from donkey carts or tankers often results in contaminated water that contains harmful substances such as arsenic.
The poor water supply system in Jacobabad has very bad impacts on the residents in terms of health, economy and social stability. Due to a lack of clean drinking water, many residents use water from unsafe sources. Jacobabad’s water hardness is 680. It has the most polluted drinking water, which is unfit for drinking as per water quality parameters. This led to an increase in very serious health issues, waterborne diseases like diarrhea, cholera and skin infections. Moreover, this situation becomes worse in the summer when the temperature in Jacobabad rises to 50°C. In such scorching heat waves and extreme hot weather, lack of safe water causes many people, especially children and elders, to suffer from dehydration and heatstroke.
Economically, the failure of the water supply system in Jacobabad forced residents to depend on private water suppliers, who sell water at varying prices. The tanker mafia is taking control of the water supply and selling it for Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 per tanker, selling more than 300 tankers daily, and taking Rs 600 from the citizens every month. Many families allocate a significant portion of their income to purchasing water, which creates a burden, especially for lower and middle-income residents. This leaves them with less money for healthcare and education.
Socially, this continuous water crisis has given birth to anger and frustration among residents. There have been many protests in the city to highlight this issue. This calls for urgent action. Without urgent actions, these problems will grow continuously, further putting more pressure on the city, already struggling with a growing population.
To solve this water crisis, this city is currently facing multiple challenges. One key issue is political instability. Recently, Trump’s USAID cut has blocked the funding of the water supply scheme in Jacobabad. Trump’s decision not only impacted this scheme but also affected developmental projects worldwide, impacting activities in 157 countries, totaling approximately $42 billion, covering over 6,100 activities across all sectors. Moreover, poor management and a lack of skilled technical staff make the water supply system more difficult to operate and repair the existing infrastructure. Residents have a lack of trust in the government-led initiatives related to water supply due to their lack of effectiveness, efficiency, and continuation. Community members also don’t participate in water-related programs. These factors make it harder to resolve the water crisis in Jacobabad and achieve long-term sustainable solutions.
This water crisis can be solved by a multidimensional approach. Firstly, ensuring the maintenance of existing water supply infrastructure is crucial. This includes repairing damaged pipelines, securing water tanks, and protecting equipment. Exposure to weather may lead to operational inefficiencies.
Secondly, diversifying the funding sources can increase the sustainability of water projects. Relying only on a single donor like the U.S has proven risky, as seen in the recent U.S aid freeze in 2025. Engaging and attracting multiple international donors fosters the public-private partnership (PPP), and allocation of resources to the local government can make a stable financial foundation to solve this crisis.
Community engagement is also a vital component, which helps in resolving the issues related to communities. Establishing water committees can empower the residents to take ownership of water management to ensure better monitoring and maintenance. Awareness programs that are focused on water conservation and hygiene practices can further promote responsible water usage. The district administration of Jacobabad can give awareness through social media regarding the sustainable usage of water.
Lastly, investing in infrastructure improvements like constructing new water treatment hubs and expanding distribution networks can enhance water accessibility. Such developments are very crucial to meet the city’s needs.
Jacobabad’s ongoing water crisis highlights the urgent need for sustainable and reliable water infrastructure in the long term. Despite past initiatives like USAID-funded water projects, challenges in funding, inadequate maintenance, and limited technical capacities continue. Health issues, economic burden, and social unrest are the rising problems due to this water crisis. To address these issues, collaborative efforts from the government, NGOs, and local communities are needed to implement effective solutions. By prioritizing infrastructural improvements, securing diverse funding, and promoting community engagement, Jacobabad can move towards ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water for its residents.
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