The war of words between some Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership is no longer confined to the two coalition allies. Showing a low tolerance threshold for each other, both have indulged in harsh exchanges after the PPP insisted on using the Benazir Income Support Programme as the main conduit for providing early relief to flood victims in Punjab. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was quick to dismiss the suggestion.
In the ensuing tit-for-tat criticism, the two sides have revived debates over several issues, including the canals project that was earlier postponed pending consensus. Most political parties in Sindh construed the Punjab CM’s statements as a fresh assault on the decision of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in April this year, which had effectively put off consideration of the canals project indefinitely.
The so-called strategic canals plan had led to widespread protests by political parties, farmers’ associations, lawyers’ forums, and civil society groups. At its peak, the opposition included a protracted blockade of inter-provincial highways. A hurriedly convened, overdue meeting of the CCI then endorsed the policy of the federal government, stating that no further action would be taken until a mutual understanding among the provinces is reached.
The CCI’s statement also said:
> “The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council’s provisional approval dated February 7, 2024, for the construction of new canals and the Indus River System Authority’s (IRSA) water availability certificate issued in its meeting dated January 17, 2024, be returned. The Planning Division and the IRSA were directed to ensure consultation with all stakeholders, in the interest of national cohesion and to address any and all concerns until mutual understanding is reached.”
Article 155 of the Constitution mandates the CCI to mediate disputes concerning water between the federation and the provinces, or between provinces themselves. The CCI is a constitutional forum, and its decisions are binding on all stakeholders.
### Renewed Debate over Water Resources
Recent statements by some Punjab government leaders have triggered renewed debate in Sindh. Representatives of the Sindh and Punjab governments had reached a draft agreement in 1945; however, the Punjab government did not ratify it. Under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), eight link canals were built to divert a substantial amount of water for irrigation, with two of these canals directly transferring water away from the Indus River.
Acrimony over water sharing between Punjab and Sindh persisted until the Water Accord of 1991 was signed. Many in Sindh had reservations about the accord and pointed to the questionable political legitimacy of the Jam Sadiq Ali government at the time. Critics claim the accord has not been implemented in letter and spirit.
The IRSA currently prepares water shortage forecasts early in the Kharif season and uses a contested three-tier formula for water distribution. After the IRSA issued a water availability certificate for the Cholistan scheme despite objections from Sindh, its credibility has been questioned by the Sindh government as well as other stakeholders.
Recently, the Sindh High Court stopped the federal member of the IRSA, who belongs to Punjab, from working. Clause C of the executive order issued by the Pervez Musharraf government on July 10, 2000, had reserved this position for an expert from Sindh. The order is protected under Article 270-AA of the Constitution, which safeguards chief executives’ orders. However, a federal member from Punjab was appointed in 2010, sparking controversy.
### The Bigger Picture on River Water Disputes
River flows and apportionment of water have long been sources of dispute worldwide. Upstream states or regions are typically accused of usurping the share of their downstream counterparts. In 1948, India used its upstream location to coerce Pakistan into an agreement that deprived it of three eastern rivers. More recently, India has unilaterally suspended the Indus Water Treaty, heightening concerns.
The people of Sindh are particularly worried. Pakistan also receives approximately 20 million acre-feet (MAF) of water from the Kabul River, which is about 700 kilometers long. The river rises in the Sanglakh range located in the mountains northwest of Kabul, passes by Kabul and Jalalabad in Afghanistan, and then enters Pakistan.
Shared rivers are best acknowledged as shared resources. Several international treaties establish and protect the water rights of lower riparian states. Given Pakistan’s highly polarized political landscape, irresponsible statements regarding water disputes do a great disservice to the federation and national cohesion.
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*It is crucial for all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue and adhere to constitutional mandates to ensure equitable water distribution and maintain harmony between provinces.*
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1350028-politics-turning-parochial