Pakistan’s inter-provincial rift over water-sharing deepens amid Punjab’s dominance: Report
Athens, June 29 (IANS) Despite receiving the largest share of water under Pakistan’s 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, Punjab Province has continued to encroach on the allocations meant for other provinces, aided by its upstream advantage, a lack of transparency in water measurement, and weak enforcement of the accord.
The situation underscores the irony of Pakistan, which expects that India forgo its share of river waters while Islamabad fails miserably to ensure equitable distribution among its own provinces, a report has stated.
Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab provinces have frequently clashed over water distribution, accusing the federal government in Islamabad of favouring the latter despite its access to water from five rivers in addition to the Indus. They view the issue as a longstanding failure of federal governance, according to a report in Athens-based ‘Directus.’
“The water distribution problem has not remained limited to technical disagreements but has evolved into a profound political crisis, exposing deep mistrust between the federation and its provinces. Even though the water distribution problems have a historic background, the Cholistan Canal project of 2025 cemented the perceived sense of injustice. The anger is directed at the prosperous and politically influential province of Punjab. Other Indus-dependent provinces fear that their interests are being sacrificed as political power takes precedence over governance,” the report detailed.
It noted that downstream provinces have grown increasingly concerned about the impact on agriculture, drinking water supplies, economic development, and the Indus Delta’s ecological preservation as Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority (IRSA) restricts southward water flows.
“Emotions are very high in Sindh, as it is the province most dependent on Indus water. Recently, it accused the IRSA of unfair distribution, saying the reduced share risked the livelihoods and economy of the downstream region. The Indus River is a lifeline for the country, but for Sindh it is more than that, a lifeblood and an existential resource,” the report added.
According to the report, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have faced even greater challenges, with their grievances largely ignored. Balochistan has long complained of inequitable water distribution, delayed deliveries, and structural flaws in the water allocation formula. It is often embroiled in disputes with Sindh because its water allocation passes through the province. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the other hand, is reportedly unable to claim its share due to a lack of adequate infrastructure to tap the Indus.
The report warned that the situation is likely to deteriorate further and could trigger social unrest if the military-driven Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) is implemented.
“It proposes to build a six-canal network, including the flagship Cholistan Canal, which will be built in upstream Punjab. The GPI also includes corporate farming and military-initiated agriculture activities. So, people from Sindh are asking where the water for these canals will come from when the Indus system is already water-stressed,” it stressed.
–IANS
scor/ksk/as
