inter provincial water conflict in pakistan

Interprovincial water conflict in PAKISTAN

HASSAN SHER TAWEEBA HASSAN

Geography 133, section A
Professor SOHAIL AHMED UMER
November 16, 2013
It is obvious that conflicts arises on non-renewable natural recourses like petrol, gas, coal, e.t.c because of their economic value but today in modern world conflicts arising on renewable recourses like water. Pakistan is a country facing serious shortage of fresh water recourses in the country. Things get worse as Pakistan is securing 6th position in the list of world’s 10 most populated countries1. The rivers following in the country are cross Border Rivers. They entered into Pakistan from Indian side of the border. So water conflict between India and Pakistan also exist.
In 1951 water availability in Pakistan was 5000 cubic meter per capita per year, that amount is decreased to 1100 cubic meter per capita per year in 2007 and future Pakistan facing serious threat of fresh water amount decreases to 700 cubic meters per capita per year in 20252. These stats are horrible for a country whose economy is agricultural based economy. In Pakistan majority of population is living in rural areas, it is about 65% of total population and their basic occupation is agriculture. Pakistan agriculture shares good amount of GDP, 20% of Pakistan’s total GDP belongs to agriculture. Agriculture is one of big source of employment, around 43.61% people employed in agriculture sector3. Agriculture contributing a lot in foreign reserves as it has big share in total export of Pakistan. Another important thing is agriculture helping the government to earn tax revenue. So now we can imagine how important agriculture is for Pakistan. Agriculture is backbone of Pakistan economy. We can judge easily how big share of agriculture is in Pakistan by looking into Pakistan map, showing areas that are using for crop cultivation. Majority of agriculture is done in Punjab and sindh.

4. This picture shows that 70 to 80% area of Pakistan is used for agriculture and agriculture required water. All provinces of Pakistan try to get good amount of water to earn more revenue. In Pakistan five main rivers are flowing (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej). Two western rivers belong to India, Pakistan possess three eastern rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. Map can give us clear picture5. As this map is showing all five rivers entered into Punjab and all five rivers meet here in Punjab and together in one river they entered into SINDH. Over 50% of population is living in Punjab and people of Punjab are dominating the politics of Pakistan as well as they are manipulating the water resources in the country many link canals built in Punjab that enables to convert water of one river into another river6. These are some of the concern of other provinces. These issues are not new, interprovincial conflict even exist before partition. To resolve these issues Pakistan government has signed accord between provinces in 1991. This accord is called “water apportionment accord” (Waa). Chief Ministers of all four provinces were agreed upon this accord. This agreement fixes the share of provinces on rivers water and uses of canal. This agreement had two main purposes; one purpose was protection of canal water in each province and second is balance share of river water among four provinces.
This table shows the share of each province for two different season crops one is RABI and second is KHARIF7.
Province
RABI (MAF)
KHARIF (MAF)
TOTAL (MAF)
PUNJAB
18.87
37.07
55.94
SINDH
14.82
33.94
48.76
NWFP (KP)
(A)
2.3
3.48
5.78 (B) CIVIL CANALS
1.2
1.80
3.00
BALOCHISTAN
1.02
2.85
3.87
TOTAL
37.01
77.34
114.35

1.0
1.8
3

This water accord allocates 37% of water to Punjab, 37% water to Sind, 12% water to Baluchistan, and 14% of water to KP. After this agreement problem is still not solved. Other three province claims that Punjab is consuming water more than its share and giving less amount of water than their share. In 2001 WAPDA (water and power development authority) and IRSA (Indus river system authority) announced that between the month of March and May there would be no release of water from TARBELA dam for irrigational purposes because TARBELA has very less amount of water and for drinking purposes 10,000 cusecs will be released. This led to 40% less supply of water during wheat season. Sind, Punjab are two major wheat cultivation provinces, in same year Sind observed decrees in wheat production and on the other hand Punjab able to increase 2% more area under wheat cultivation8. One can say without hesitation that in Pakistan democratic-decentralization is lacking and the force of regionalism is growing. It is also considered civil society failure that is unable to put this water issue under some debate or on some forum where this inter-provincial conflict can be solved. If these issues not solved and each province not gets its share then it will be difficult for provinces to exist together as one country. Pakistan has already experienced separation of Bengal in 70s, same type of problems existed at that time, they were deprived and at the end they separated.
No doubt problems over water sharing exist but the real question is what a solution is, all four provinces of Pakistan are lacking trust on each other, if Pakistan wants to solve its problem then she has to build trust that is sustainable. Trust only can be built when impartial body work to provide each province its deserving share. Trust only can be built when there is justice, trust can be built when impartial body successfully able to do justice with all provinces.
There is another important thing that can bring peace between provinces if IRSA and WAPDA take decisions on the bases of interest rather than on the bases of positions. These are two main bodies which regulates the water in Pakistan if they try to hold negotiation between provinces on lower level and bring them to a single mutual beneficiary interest9 and then implement the consensus very gently. Independent body has to keep good check and balance over dams and barrages and provide accurate figures of water flow to each province. Anyone who breaks the rules should be charge with fiscal fines. Interprovincial conflict can be solved in this way.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

countries of the world. (2012). retrieved November 7 2013, from world atlas Web Site: http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/populations/ctypopls.htm#.Unsmd6Iwec8

hassan, rt (2012, october 15). save water to save pakistan. the express tribune

role of agriculture in the economic development of pakistan. (november 25, 2009). retrieved november 8 2013, from scribd Web Site: http://www.scribd.com/doc/23125947/Role-of-Agriculture-in-the-Economic-Development-of-Pakistan

nouman, mf (september 13, 2009). role of agriculture in the economic development of pakistan. retrieved november 8 2013, from scribd Web Site: http://www.scribd.com/doc/19702389/Role-of-Agriculture-in-Economic-Development-of-Pakistan

nouman, mf (august 17, 2010). rivers & barrages of pakistan. retrieved november 8 2013, from Pakistan defense Web Site: http://defence.pk/threads/rivers-barrages-of-pakistan.69510

muhamed, ma (2007, november, 28). water shortage in sindh. retrieved november 6 2013, from scribd Web Site: http://www.scribd.com/doc/529124/Water-shortage-in-Sindh

water accord 1991. (n.d) retrieved november 6 2013, from pakistan water gateway Web Site: http://cms.waterinfo.net.pk/pdf/wa.pdf imam, m & anjali rohani (2012, march). beyond the water conflict in the indus basin: building inter-provincial trust. retrieved november, 10, 2013, from water security initiatives havard university Web Site: http://watersecurityinitiative.seas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Lohani&Imam_Second%20Year%20Policy%20Analysis_0.p

Bibliography: countries of the world. (2012). retrieved November 7 2013, from world atlas Web Site: http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/populations/ctypopls.htm#.Unsmd6Iwec8 hassan, rt (2012, october 15). save water to save pakistan. the express tribune role of agriculture in the economic development of pakistan. (november 25, 2009). retrieved november 8 2013, from scribd Web Site: http://www.scribd.com/doc/23125947/Role-of-Agriculture-in-the-Economic-Development-of-Pakistan nouman, mf (september 13, 2009). role of agriculture in the economic development of pakistan. retrieved november 8 2013, from scribd Web Site: http://www.scribd.com/doc/19702389/Role-of-Agriculture-in-Economic-Development-of-Pakistan nouman, mf (august 17, 2010). rivers & barrages of pakistan. retrieved november 8 2013, from Pakistan defense Web Site: http://defence.pk/threads/rivers-barrages-of-pakistan.69510 muhamed, ma (2007, november, 28). water shortage in sindh. retrieved november 6 2013, from scribd Web Site: http://www.scribd.com/doc/529124/Water-shortage-in-Sindh water accord 1991. (n.d) retrieved november 6 2013, from pakistan water gateway Web Site: http://cms.waterinfo.net.pk/pdf/wa.pdf imam, m & anjali rohani (2012, march). beyond the water conflict in the indus basin: building inter-provincial trust. retrieved november, 10, 2013, from water security initiatives havard university Web Site: http://watersecurityinitiative.seas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Lohani&Imam_Second%20Year%20Policy%20Analysis_0.p