Rapid groundwater extraction in Lahore has led to a severe shortage of underground reserves in the region.
According to the Irrigation Research Institute, even recent rains have failed to naturally recharge the underground water table.
The Institute stressed that, under emergency measures, recharge wells must be constructed in all public and private schools, colleges, universities, and housing societies, as Lahore’s groundwater level is falling to dangerous levels.
Director General of the Irrigation Research Institute, Dr. Zakir Hussain Sial, told a news channel that Lahore’s water table is dropping by one to four feet annually due to insufficient recharge.
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The institute has installed more than 70 recharge wells, but during recent rains, only 1.5 million liters of water could be replenished, far below the 10 to 15 acre-feet requirement. In Gulberg, the water table has dropped from 125 feet to 300 feet.
In other parts of Lahore, brackish water has fallen to depths of 150 feet, while potable water is now found at depths of up to 700 feet.
