{"id":20044933,"date":"2020-12-03T12:30:19","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T07:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thethirdpole.net\/?p=44933"},"modified":"2021-06-03T14:35:40","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T09:05:40","slug":"comment-water-is-not-distributed-evenly-across-pakistans-districts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/water\/comment-water-is-not-distributed-evenly-across-pakistans-districts\/","title":{"rendered":"Comment: Water is not distributed evenly across Pakistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The allocation of the waters of the Indus river system between the provinces of Pakistan was a historic agreement. This agreement, known as the Water Apportionment Accord (WAA<\/a>), was signed into effect in 1991. Normally such allocations have the following objectives: equity, environmental protection, development priorities, balancing supply and demand, and promoting the efficient use of water<\/a>. Plans are reviewed against these defined merits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long-standing riparian disputes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The use and allocation of water within the Indus basin is heavily affected by the institutions and policies that prevail at the international level<\/a>. Water conflicts between the provinces of Pakistan predate the 1947 partition of India and are a classic example of upstream-downstream riparian conflicts<\/a>. After 1947, irrigation water was allocated between the provinces through informal, ad hoc arrangements. Eventually, several commissions and committees led to the apportionment of waters in 1991. The accord comprises 14 clauses and eight appendices, signed by the highest officer of each of the four provinces of Pakistan and ratified by the prime minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the WAA lacks a clearly stated objective and instead provided insights into the challenges that it is yet to overcome \u2013 namely, a lack of development of water resources, suboptimal use of additional water made available after the completion of the Tarbela dam in 1976, and unrealised economic and employment opportunities. This makes it difficult to review the accord\u2019s first 30 years against its objectives<\/a>. Over the next 30, demographic, socioeconomic and climatic changes in the Indus basin will place the WAA under increased scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Recommended<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Recommended<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

One overarching aspect of the accord was an agreement that the division of the Indus river system\u2019s waters should be settled as quickly as possible. Despite a lack of consideration of numerous objectives, including environmental protection, change in consumptive water use, climate change and others in the WAA\u2019s water allocation framework, the accord is considered a success by many for having maintained water harmony among the provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This success is usually assessed by quantifying the volume of water delivered to each province (in each season and year) and how this corresponds with the WAA\u2019s allocations. However, this leaves a critical question that needs further assessment: \u201cAre these allocations and corresponding water deliveries justified at lower spatial scales, e.g. at district levels?\u201d This article explores this question and the accord in the context of its implementation at the district level, seeking to understand whether the apportionment of water between provinces caused disparity among the districts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n