| Date | Legislation | Implementation | Key feature |
| 1860 | Pakistan Penal Code | Federal Penalizes | Water pollution as a public health issue |
| 1873 | Canal and Drainage Act | Federal and provincial | Governs irrigation water use |
| 1882 | Easement Act | Federal | Grants and limits rights for water pollution |
| 1883 | Land Improvement Loans Act | Provincial | Provides loans for water distribu-tion, drainage, and reclamation |
| 1905 | Punjab Minor Canals Act | Provincial | Governs irrigation water use |
| 1927 | Forests Act | Federal and Provincial | Governs disposal of waste and effluent |
| 1934 | Factories Act | Federal | Penalizes pollution of water in forests |
| 1949 | Karachi Joint Water Board Ordinance | Municipal | Prohibits pollution of water supply; first water law at municipal level |
| 1952 | Punjab Development of Damaged Areas Act | Provincial | Allows government to construct sewage and drainage in “damaged areas” |
| 1958 | West Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority Act | Provincial and Federal | Establishes what is today the Water and Power Development Authority |
| 1960 | Indus Waters Treaty | International | Governs sharing of Indus River waters between Pakistan and India |
| 1976 | Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act | Federal, International | Declares maritime territory and boundaries |
| 1980 | Sindh Fisheries Ordinance | Provincial | Prohibits dumping of pollutants in water |
| 1981 | On-Farm Water Manage-ment and Water Users’ Association Ordinance | Federal | Provides resources for improved irrigation water managemen |
| 1991 | Indus River System Accord | Provincial | Governs water sharing between provinces |
| 1997 | Provincial Irrigation and Drainage Authority Acts | Provincial | Implements irrigation reforms |
| 1997 | Environmental Protection Act | Federal | Governs protection, conservation, rehabilitation, pollution, and improvement of environment |
| 2009 | National Drinking Water | Federal | Provides institutional framework and guidelines for provinces to assure quality and supply of drinking water |
| 2010 | 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan | Federal | Devolves Ministry of Environment to provinces, establishes forums for interprovincial dialogue |
| 2011 | Punjab Environmental Protection (Amendment) Bill | Provincial | Establishes Punjab Ministry of Environment |