Water crisis in Pakistan:

It is one of the core ingredients that is lacking in this country.

This issue starts within the 50’s when India blocked water of
Pakistan. Agreement was then made between Pakistan and
Liaqat but it was broken after which Indus water treaty came
into being. Whenever talking about water issue climate comes
into mind. Climate is the statistics of weather over a long period
of time. The measurement we do day to day is of weather and if
we get to know 50-60 years of weather it makes climate. From
2005 there has been an increase in climate what is now proving
to be a serious global and national threat. Pakistan has been
grouped as number 8 as most affected and risked by climate
change. This ranking is from global climate risk index, German
watch dog. After being ranked 8th it is sure that the first effect
that it will cause will be of water. There is a UK based global
risk consulting firm called Versik Maplecroft which has showed
us that Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi will be the most
affected. In addition to this there are also greenhouse gas
emissions commission which ranked Pakistan 137th from 2011-
2015 due to which it contributed 0.47% total GHGE. The
national institute of oceanography showed that from 2010-
2012 3600 people were killed or displaced and Pakistan lost 16
billion $ in relation to gas and infrastructure. This shows that all
this will affect water in Pakistan. Effects of climate change in
Pakistan include:
 Extreme temperatures
  seasonal droughts
 heavy rains
 cyclones
 devastating floods
 unusual fogs
 unusual melting of glaciers
 glacier outburst floods (GLOF’S)
 landslides
 Avalanches in mountain areas
 Threating inflows effect the Indus river system (IRS).
National climate change policy was framed in Pakistan in 2012
but was not implemented because the national climate change
divisions in 18th amendments 2010 were given to provincial
levels and it became their subject and because of inter
provincial disputes it was not solved. Due to this reason it
wasn’t implemented. Then in 2016 where Pakistan climate
change bill was introduced in accordance with intended
nationally determined contributions (INDC’S) by Paris
agreement. This was introduced to enforce law but it was found
that it needed at least 14 billion $ till 2025 and they needed
funding. Even though it was in the Paris agreement that
someone would fund the countries whose economy was
considered to be weak but since Pakistan was facing a lot of
problems, inter linked to climate problem, it was never really
implemented because Pakistan needed to work on multiple
issues to solve this climate problem. Pakistan council of
research on water resources (PRRWR) where it was stated that
yearly in Indus water system 120-130 million acre field of water
comes even though IRSA states it is 134.8. In Pakistan the water
that gets stored in underground which is used through tube
wells, borring etc is 50 Million acre field (MAF) of water. The
water that comes from glacier melting contributes 41% of
water, snow melt 22% and rainfall 27%. Glacier takes 50-100
years in making whereas snow melting is every year. Thus the
total water annually is 180 MAF of water comes to Pakistan.
From this Pakistan needs annually 70 MAF of water alone of
agriculture. For domestic uses it needs 20 MAF of water. For
industries 15 MAF of water. These 3 totals to 130 MAF of water
and this is how much Pakistan needs annually. This shows that
there is excessive water. Hence Pakistan does not have a water
shortage in Pakistan. There is mismanagement. This excessive
water is thrown in the sea but the full amount cannot be
thrown and still some amount will be in excess. IN 1951 per
capita water surface was determined and was 5260 Cubic
meter per year (CMPY). In 2016 it was decreased to 1000 CPMY.
If this continues it will drop down to 860 CMPY. That is why is
1995 Pakistan was considered as water resourced but now in
2016 it was called water stressed country and in future there is
a fear that it will termed water scarce country. This will lead to
war. Pakistan had Indus water basin upon which certain
treaties were done. The 1st issue that Pakistan faced was that of
water upon the upper riparian and lower riparian. Pakistan is
on lower riparian and India on upper riparian. This gives
Pakistan a big disadvantage because the whole water is coming
from India to Pakistan and no river is going from Pakistan to
India. This issue was taken to World Bank and in Sep 1960 a
treaty was signed known as Indus water treaty. Under this
treaty Pakistan and India were given certain exclusive rights.
There were 62 clauses.
 The exclusive rights given to India were upon the Eastern
Rivers (Ravi, Biyas and Sutlej) whereas Pakistan was given
exclusive rights upon Western rivers (Chenab, Jhelum and
Sindh). By exclusive right it means that it is there choice to
use the water by whatever method they see fit.
 Secondly certain regulation were put on India such as India
were allowed to use Western rivers for non-consumption
methods i.e. India can only use them for production of
electricity.
 Thirdly Pakistan would be given 1 time compensation for
Eastern Rivers to help the affected civilization due to
closure of rivers by India. This payment has not been
made till date. Pakistan was given a transition period of 10
years during which Pakistan could use the water of these
eastern rivers but Pakistan was to make dams, canals and
tributaries to solve the problems of the affected
population. Pakistan make 2 water dams during this
period known as Tarbella and Mangla, 5 Barrages, 1
Siphon and 8 link canal systems were made and connected
to Indus basin so as to help the affected civilization. This
 transition period was to end at 31st March 1970. World
Bank funded the projects.
 Similarly another clause was given that both sides will
adopt best practices and nobody can use each other’s
waters without each other’s permission.
 Also it was given that India will be bound to inform
Pakistan about design of any worth on western rivers well
before construction or start of work. If not told it would
compensate Pakistan for everything E.g. water
compensation and loss of economy due to it
compensation. India plans hydrological war on Pakistan
rivers:
 On river Chenab. The completed projects includes
Baglihar Dam, Salal Dam, Dul-hasti Dam, Tari-Rawi
link. The future plans that are to be made till 2040
include Pakal Dul Dam, Bursar Hydroelectric project,
Chennai I, II, III, Bhaderwah Dam, Baghliar II and
Kishtawar Dam. All these will result in complete
stoppage of water to Pakistan.
 On River Jhelum. The completed projects include
Wullar barrage a.k.a Tulbul navigation project, Kishan
Ganga Dam, URI power project. Projects that will be
completed till the end of 2040 include Lower Jhelum,
Upper Sindh I, Ganderbal project, Upper Sindh II,
Pahalgam, Karnah project.
 On river Indus. The completed projects include Nimo
Bazgo, Dumkhar, Chutak hydroelectric power project.
 The ones that will be completed include Iqbal Dam,
Hunder project, Sumoor project, Igo-Mercellong
project, Haftal dam, Marpachoo dam and Bazgo-
stakna project.
 If India constructs such work on western rivers that it will
affect the supply of water downstream, within 24 hours it
has to be restored. India is using this for its purpose by
closing it and then releasing it causing floods.
Problems and its Solutions:
 Removal of old age norms. In Pakistan agriculture is
progressing in the same way as it used to before e.g. in
agriculture there is no modernization, increasement of
technology because neither we paid attention to it nor
were we ask to pay attention to it. Agriculture continued to
progress as it used to. In the world there is tunnel farming
and in Pakistan there is no concept of it. 2.5% of USA GDP
is contributed by agriculture and feeding 300 million
people and is also exporting it due to modernization which
has improved their per acre yeild. Pakistan has almost the
same amount of land but the per acre yield is very less
because we are still not modernized. Secondly there is
unnecessary cultivation of crops. Rice and sugar cane are
the ones that use the most amount of water. Pakistan
among south Asia countries gives the lowest per acre yield.
Before Pakistan used to produce cotton but when the
theory came that rice and sugar cane give more money the
 farmers who grew cotton switched to rice and sugar cane.
This was proved in the Pakistan economic survey where it
was stated that 3.81% agriculture growth happened in
2017-18 and most of it was through sugar cane and rice.
According to a survey 1 kg of sugar cane requires
approximately 1500-3000 liters of water and Pakistan is
producing in tons. Similarly rice requires 1200-1900 liters
of water. In Pakistan there is already mismanagement of
water. We don’t export rice and sugar cane as it is not
allowed unless and until government allows which leads to
increase in prices thus affecting the economy. Recently an
issue arose with sugar cane. Recently this led to the sugar
mafia case. What we must do is to grow these crops
according to our per anam consumption until we allow its
exportation. Polyethene sheets are used so that when
water is given to the crop they absorb it slowly and it isn’t
wasted in the ground thus increasing its absorption rate.
This is called tunnel farming. In Pakistan this is used in
Multan, Bahawalpur and Pindi-Lahore motorway. Hence
this technique should be employed along with
modernization of techniques.
 Water reservoirs and storage capacities in Pakistan should
be enhanced. Pakistan has from the water transition
period not made a single dam of public level. It was said in
the transition period that whatever Pakistan has made can
control 110 million of population. Today according 2017
census it controls 2.10 million population. This is wrong.
What this means that there is lack of knowledge in
previous years for focus on capacity building of water. The
kishan ganga project that was started was told to Pakistan
in 1992 about it and till 2000 Pakistan did not have the
leadership qualities not the political stability to look at it.
They informed again but still Pakistan did not pay
attention to it. Now it has become a big issue. When this
was taken to the international court of arbitrators to
remove this dam. India issued a stance that ask Pakistan
about its annual consumption and how much water comes
every year? Then they said that countries around the world
are are becoming water scarce countries and yet still
Pakistan has not made any dams so they must not need it.
India on the other hand needs water. Thus the court
decided to side with India. This was the worst diplomatic
defeat to Pakistan. Even though we had exclusive right to
use the water in any way we see fit but that doesn’t mean
we waste it. Thus now Pakistan should make water
reservoirs. Through 18th amendments provinces were given
the rights to make water reservoirs sector wise, area wise
etc. Unless and until dams are not promoted and made
this problem will continue and eventually the water will be
depleted leading to a dispute with India and eventually a
war. It is thus important that the provincial policies should
match with the national policy over water crisis. The lack
of communication between provinces and state and inter
provincial disputes is further harming this issue. There
 should be homogeneity between federal and provinces.
Policies and resources should be given to the provinces to
build dams in line of national water policy and
management.
 Social awareness. When we brush our teeth we waste 10-
12 gallon of water because the tap is continuously on. We
have not been made socially aware as to how consume the
water. In China the water that is removed from domestic
uses is used to water the crops whereas in Pakistan they
are being thrown in sea. Social awareness is ultimately the
duty of the state as to make the public aware as to what
water is, what its importance is and why it is a necessity in
the coming years. Media should be used to promote social
awareness. Until and unless programs and advertisements
are not run on media it will be difficult. Water policies on
district level and its communication to general public
should be told and prepared. Water scarce cities such as
Baluchistan where in certain areas they are only
dependent on rainfall, rivers should be made there. In
Pakistan the British developed a canal system in Punjab
which has the capacity to store 80 million acre of water. If
that was functional till now it would store water but it is
not the same now as some land lords have taken it over in
some areas, in others societies are made and in other
areas privatization has occurred. Only from that Punjab
can produce water for Baluchistan and Sindh annually.
Stray foolishness should be avoided as dams are not built
 on public funding as this leads to lack of awareness. The
water development authority should be given a policy and
all the provinces should be brought under it. Cpec was
offering to make reservoirs. Pakistan can also keep this in
mind so that integrated water reservoirs increase.
 Politicization of water issue. Whenever there is a national
project it requires national consensus which should include
and contribute every element. Unfortunately due to
foreign intervention this consensus has always been
distorted in Pakistan. E.g. Kalabagh Dam. It is one of the
national reservoirs of Pakistan. It is among one of the
locations that gives a natural cover for Dam. It could have
been made constrictively. However it was sabotaged.
Kalabagh Dam was alone enough instead of many
projects. According to Pakistan water partnership it was
stated that India alone has spent 2.5 billion rs to avoid the
building of Kalabagh dam in 2012. The water policy should
be the integral part of Pakistan’s defense policy. If it
continues like this water war will start. How? Pakistan will
throw a missile at a dam of Indian dam so as to start the
water and this according to the Geneva Convention is
considered an act of war.
 Pakistan must declare its response against India that tries
to divert world attention from illegal constructions of India
on Pakistan’s river. Pakistan must form a uniform and
comprehensive national strategy. This will only be possible
by bringing the national and provincial governments
 together. Pakistan should write in its doctrine that if india
does not allow Pakistan its right due Pakistan shall have
the right to attack such systems.
 An aggressive and principled position must be taken at the
global level on water issue with India. It must be projected
at every international forum. It must tell the world that the
water aggression of India might bring 1.5 billion people on
the verge of extinction. Both countries are nuclear powers
and even if one of them fucks up it will be a big disaster.
(p.s. don’t write the word fucks up. Thank you. Couldn’t
think of a word for it as sir was speaking in urdu and
referred to it as patakhei. )
 Parliament must define a maximum time period for
completion of projects based on estimates of the need in
respective areas. Whenever there is a need for project it
takes many years e.g. Neelum Jhelum projected started in
Musharraf era, completed in PPP era and inaugurated in
PML N’s era. If not completed in time the parliament
should ask as to why it’s not completed. Until and unless
this is not done this problem will continue.
 Pakistan must dissect its strategy in 3 parts i.e. short term,
medium term and long term projects. Short terms refers to
those which get completed within 1 year. Within 2-5 year
are medium term projects and those that take 5-10 years
are called long term projects. Until Pakistan uses this
strategy things won’t be defined. There should be effective
utilization e.g. for Diamer Basha dam 25 billion was kept in
 PSDP (public service development fund) but only 12 billion
was spent.
 Political parties must come up with a workable solution
instead of criminally putting the most important matter or
projects in cold storage especially KPK & Sindh. Highest
number of problems arise in these 2 provinces and
whenever a project is being made these 2 provinces have
the most number of reservations. Political parties should
bring forward a solution instead of playing the blame
game.
 Minimization of water theft. When water is sent between
provinces certain land lords put generators and steal that
water. E.g. when water leaves Kotri barrage 100 L it
reaches Gudu Barrage 80L. Sindh claims Punjab has given
less water whereas that is not the case as the land lords
have put generators to steal that water. There are
outdated systems and instruments for checking water.
Those instruments have not been changed and blame
game is being played on it. Pakistan must use satellite
technology to monitor rivers. Till this is not done water
theft issue cannot be addressed.
 Pakistan should improvise the concept of Diamer Basha
dam. Government must approach towards the friending
allies especially World Bank and middle eastern countries
as it is in Pakistan’s vested national interest.
 Minimize international warfare on water. India’s and
Afghanistan plan should be stopped. The Kabul
 government has taken a pact with India. From Gilgit
Baltistan Kabul river enters Afghanistan and reenters
Peshawar. India has not only issued war through India but
also through Afghanistan as they have taken a pact named
Kabul Government pact to build dams on river Kabul as
well as canals. India has funded 3 billion rs which
ultimately will go to 10 billion. This dam is called KAMA
hydroelectric power project which will also irrigate the
crops over there.
 Pakistan has not cleaned the mess at warsak dam through
siltation for the past 40 years due to which the storing
capacity of water has decreased and when floods come
they are not being stored.