Hydro Politics in Pakistan: A Challenge to the National Unity
Keywords:
Water Scarcity, IRSA, Indus Water Treaty, World Bank, Kalabagh DamAbstract
Pakistan has one of the largest canal irrigation systems in the world, ironically, the country lacks an effective water management system. The per capita availability of water, has dropped to 1000 cubic meters, from 5650 cubic meters, per person, since inception. This study aimed to identify the causes and consequences of water shortage in Pakistan and suggests they ways to cope water crisis. The research identified three sets of issue are responsible for present water crisis. First is, irregular rain falls due to climate change, secondly, high handedness of the eastern and western neighbors over international water reservoir regulations. Lastly, domestic causes such as inadequate water storage infrastructure, political conspiracies against the construction of new dams, deteriorating condition of existing irrigation system, extravagant use of water, by agriculturists, industrialists, and households, and the widely accepted norm of dumping waste into water. Such a situation has unfolded complex challenges of food shortage, energy crisis and climate security. Government needs to act on war footing basis, to deal with this non-traditional security threat of economic water scarcity, comprising of diverse initiatives. First, a bilateral or a multilateral dialogue, with the neighboring states of India and Afghanistan is needed to settle down the cross-border water dispute. Secondly, there is need to develop a national level consensus, between provinces of Pakistan, for the construction of new dams. Thirdly, existing infrastructure for water storage should be renovated, to avoid huge water losses through leakage and seepage.
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