Unilever Pakistan and WWF-Pakistan Call for Urgent Action on Water Security in Pakistan

Water insecurity is increasingly being recognised as both an environmental and economic challenge for Pakistan.
Unilever Pakistan’s Water Stewardship Programme, implemented in partnership with WWF-Pakistan, seeks to address shared water challenges through practical, measurable interventions in Punjab. Designed to strengthen long-term water security for both communities and businesses, the programme focuses on addressing water challenges beyond the factory fence through collaborative, catchment-level action.
Unilever Pakistan and WWF-Pakistan convened a media roundtable to engage journalists on the country’s growing water security challenges and discuss interventions aimed at replenishing and protecting vital water resources. With declining groundwater levels, increasing demand, and mounting climate pressures, experts at the session stressed that sustainable water management must become a national priority to safeguard livelihoods, food security, economic productivity, and environmental resilience.
The session brought together leading media representatives, sustainability practitioners, and water experts for an in-depth discussion on the state of Pakistan’s water resources, the economic and social implications of water scarcity, and the role of collective action in safeguarding the country’s future.
“Water stewardship is only meaningful when it goes beyond the fence line,” said Sohail Ali Naqvi, Director Freshwater Programme, WWF-Pakistan. “WWF-Pakistan is working to replenish and protect the water resources that communities, agriculture, and nature rely on using science-based interventions and measurable outcomes. This is the kind of long-term, collective action that Pakistan’s water crisis demands, and we are encouraged to see the private sector stepping up as a partner in that effort.”
“Water is one of Pakistan’s most critical shared resources, and addressing its depletion requires collective action from all stakeholders,” said Ramlah Tariq, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Manager, Unilever Pakistan. “Through our partnership with WWF, we are investing in interventions that contribute to groundwater replenishment, improved water management, and long-term resilience. While the scale of the challenge is significant, we believe that meaningful progress begins with sustained, unified action.”

Participants were informed that Pakistan officially crossed the United Nations’ water scarcity threshold in 2010 and has remained water-scarce ever since.
The Water Stewardship Programme forms part of Unilever Pakistan’s broader sustainability agenda focused on protecting natural resources and building resilient communities. In recent years, the company has expanded its environmental initiatives through programmes focused on plastic circularity, waste reduction, climate action, livelihoods, and responsible resource management. Working alongside partners from government, civil society, and the private sector, Unilever Pakistan continues to support practical and scalable solutions that contribute towards a more sustainable and resilient future for Pakistan.