Integrating tectonically guided fractured-rock groundwater exploration and community based governance for water security in Pakistan

Pakistan faces a growing water crisis driven by climate change, groundwater depletion, declining water quality, and increasing demand. We propose a hybrid framework that integrates regional structural geology with community-based water governance to improve long-term water security and climate resilience in the Indus River Basin. The framework combines identification of underutilized freshwater resources within fractured-rock aquifers with sustainable groundwater management through traditional nature-based methods and community-led governance.We compile regional fracture data across 26 structurally defined regions of the northwestern Syntaxis and western lateral margin to develop a first-order framework for identifying favorable groundwater exploration targets. The analysis reveals systematic spatial variations in dominant fracture orientations across major tectonic boundaries and identifies preferred structural permeability orientations within individual regions. For example, in Region 17, regional fracture systems intersect anticline hinge zones where fold-related extension fractures may further enhance secondary permeability, identifying structurally favorable targets for subsequent hydrogeologic investigation.Rather than replacing conventional hydrogeologic investigations, regional fracture mapping provides an efficient screening tool to guide geophysical surveys, exploratory drilling, and site-specific groundwater evaluation. Coupling this approach with decentralized community governance and traditional nature-based practices provides a practical strategy for strengthening water security in Pakistan and a transferable framework for other tectonically active mountain regions.