The Uraan Pakistan initiative, a newly announced national economic transformation plan, sets ambitious goals: $100 billion in annual exports, 20 million new jobs, $29 billion in FDI, a 20% poverty reduction within five years, and a $1 trillion economy by 2035.
While inspiring, these goals stand in stark contrast to the harsh realities of widespread poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. Nearly 60% of the population lacks access to quality food and clean water with devastating consequences—40% of children under five are stunted and 30% suffer from wasting. These aren’t just grim statistics but a generational challenge that erodes workforce productivity and undermines the nation’s economic and political stability.
For an agrarian economy, Pakistan’s heavy reliance on food imports is both perplexing and precarious. It exposes millions to global price shocks and supply disruptions. Poor storage and distribution infrastructure lead to significant food losses, driving up prices and making nutritious food inaccessible for the most vulnerable.
Mismanagement of water resources remains central, with water-intensive cash crops prioritized over essential food crops needed to sustain the growing population. This colonial legacy exacerbates import dependency and heightens vulnerabilities amid unpredictable weather, flash floods, and droughts. Though the Indus Basin, once a symbol of abundance, is now overexploited due to inefficient management and climate change, the floodplains present a transformative opportunity to address these challenges. Their potential remains largely untapped. If managed effectively, they could provide more than just abundant harvests of wheat, millet, maize, lentils and oilseeds while reducing reliance on costly imports. They could also sustain ecosystems of fisheries and livestock, diversifying diets, bolstering rural livelihoods and meeting domestic protein needs.
Floodplains also serve as natural buffers against climate-induced disasters. Seasonal floods, if channelled into these areas, can absorb excess water, reducing the risk of catastrophic damage to communities and infrastructure. As climate change accelerates extreme weather events, the role of floodplains in mitigating floods and replenishing groundwater becomes increasingly critical.
Modernizing irrigation systems can complement floodplain restoration, with solar-powered Riverbed Filtration (RBF) systems ensuring sustainable agriculture in arid regions fed by wasteful canal irrigation system. By extending these systems to Cholistan and Tharparkar and revitalizing the dried Hakra River wetlands, ecosystems will be restored, supporting food security, livestock, wildlife and boosting tourism in these desert regions.
Reviving floodplains also creates pathways for inland navigation, linking Pakistan’s agricultural heartlands with the Arabian Sea. Restored waterways can support the cost-effective transport of goods to coastal ports, fostering regional trade and enhancing supply chains. This integration reduces dependency on overburdened road networks, recharges aquifers, sustains fisheries and strengthens rural economies. Linking fertile heartlands to the Arabian Sea positions Pakistan as a regional trade hub, unlocking economic growth and global connectivity.
Food security is not just a developmental goal but a cornerstone of national stability. A hungry population risks social unrest, threatening the very foundation of economic progress. Without a healthy and well-nourished population, the ambitious targets of Urran Pakistan will remain unattainable. Revitalizing floodplains and securing food systems is the first step toward sustainable growth and stability.
—The writer is politico-strategic analyst based in Islamabad.
