Pakistan needs more or less US $6 billion annual investment for watersupply and sanitation in the country, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)reported. According to the projected annual investment needs for watersupply and sanitation of Pakistan, the projected investment would accountfor around 2.3 percent to the country’s GDP.
The report titled “Asian Water Development Outlook 2020, advancing watersecurity across Asia and Pacific”, maintained that the total annualestimated investment required over 2015-2030 to achieve universal access tosafely managed water supply and sanitation services in Asia and the Pacificamounts to $198 billion per year.
This estimate, which includes capital, maintenance, and operation costs, isbased on World Bank figures derived from “the gap in access to services asof 2015 and the cost of connecting those without access, as well asimproving the level of service for those with access to reach SDG 6.1 and6.2 targets.
The report added that China ($60 billion per year) and India ($22 billionper year) have the highest annual investment needs for water supply andsanitation.
It also illustrates that, except for a few notable outliers (Timor-Leste,Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan), most ADB members have to allocate 1%-2% ofGDP to invest in water supply and sanitation infrastructure during2015-2030, based on growth forecasts.
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The report further argues that improving water security in Asia and thePacific requires huge investments for 2021-2030. Funding these investmentsis an issue rising on the political agenda. Besides social andenvironmental reasons to improve water security, there is also a compellingeconomic case for water investments.
Water risks must be assessed and controlled to lessen economic impacts. Forexample, during 2003-2013, weather-related disasters have amounted to $750billion losses in the region, with Myanmar, the Philippines, Bangladesh,Vietnam and Thailand among the most affected.link
