WATER SCARCITY IN QUETTA AND ITS IMPLICATION ON UNDERPRIVILEGED SOCIETIES: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY

Abstract

Water scarcity is a mounting global issue of critical concern in arid and semi-arid regions. Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's Balochistan province, epitomizes the water crisis, with severe depletion of groundwater and surface water resources. This study investigates the environmental, socioeconomic, and governance factors driving water scarcity in Quetta and explores its multidimensional impacts on underprivileged populations. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, including primary data from surveys and interviews combined with secondary literature, this study highlights how marginalized communities bear the greatest burden of water deficiency. Policy prescriptions emphasize sustainable water management, equitable access, and community- centered adaptation to mitigate the socio-environmental crisis.