Asif warns of water shortage in 10-15 years

Kalbe Ali Published October 26, 2013

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Asif said on Friday that the country could face a severe water shortage in 10 to 15 years and a drought-like situation suffered by Ethiopia over the past decades. He said at a press conference the water shortage was fast reaching serious proportions.

“We are on the verge of facing a life and death situation,” the minister said. He criticised previous governments, including military regimes, for not taking the matter seriously.

The 50-year-old Indus Water Treaty has not been of benefit to Pakistan and this is what happens when military dictators take major decisions which ignore the interest of the masses. But he said that this was his personal opinion as a political worker. The minister said the government would have to decide how to address the matter.

Mr Asif said that India had been taking advantage of the situation only because of this treaty. He said that the country was already in grip of water shortage and accused India of deliberately allowing only limited flow of water into Pakistan. “They are not giving our rightful share of water.” He also blamed previous governments for not taking up the matter seriously.

“We have lost a lot of water over the past 50 years. Now we need to make a plan for future. We need to control our population and construct new water reservoirs,” the minister said.

The secretary of water and power and officials of the Indus Water Commission briefed journalists on 53 hydropower projects and reservoirs under construction in India, including Krishenganga project. The Indus Water treaty is a water-sharing accord between Pakistan and Indian brokered by the World Bank in 1960 and signed in Karachi by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ayub Khan.

The treaty was the result of Pakistan’s concern that India might block water at source.

The treaty gives India exclusive rights to use the water of eastern Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers before entering Pakistan. Pakistan has similar rights over western Jhelum, Chenab and Indus rivers, but with some stipulations about development of water projects on these rivers by India.

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Kalbe Ali is a senior staff reporter for Dawn based in Islamabad, with nearly 20 years of field reporting experience. He covers a diverse range of topics, including the internet, IT and telecom sectors, as well as religious affairs.

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danish

Oct 26, 2013 10:30am

but what is the action plan, Mr Asif would go home after completing his 5 years in office. There must be a sound plan which would assure the benefit of Pakistan. Then that plan should be taken forward by next govt or dictator who ever may be. If Indus treaty was not complied by India then Pakistan should also highlight these facts through UN.

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Ahmed

Oct 26, 2013 10:57am

This guy seems to have just got of the bed and announce the news. Where is long term planning to develop water resources, why not let responsible departments come with true numbers and show what Pakistan is facing in particular its agriculture sector. Does the minister know what it takes to finance, plan, design, construct and maintain water resources to meet domestic, industrial and agriculture sector demands. Even if one comes up with finance and start the projects today it will take years to actually draw water from such projects. Respectable minister, you are too late to the game and disastrous results will be next to impossible to avert. I am telling you from my 40 years of related engineering experience.

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Ehtisham ul Haque

Oct 26, 2013 11:16am

Water situation has reached an alarming situation and the present regime is not very much interested like the previous Govts to take effective measures at this stage. Instead of building the controversial Kalabagh Dam , why don't they emphasize on other projects of smaller scale.

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S. A. M.

Oct 26, 2013 05:00pm

Khwaja Ji since 80s the Karachiites have been witnessing water shortages. In our case we had to dig a well to get water. Quite interestingly it was sweet and definitely available in abundance. I as a teenager used to think why my mother is paying for the water tax. Perhaps its something new in punjab!

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mujahid

Oct 26, 2013 08:13pm

Is Kh.Asif still the water & power minister as there are already two more in line & reports are that he is being replaced with MSS & MHS (Mian Hamza Shahbaz) is taking the place of his father.MNS is worried as he wants to fit in yet another son of MSS who went to USA with Tayaa Abu (Paternal Uncle) then he does have the services of Maryam Nawaz & finally Capt.Safdar.If somebody can suggest there portfolios i will be grateful to him.

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GPR FIX

Oct 26, 2013 08:21pm

India is entitled to build run of the river projects which does not change the quantity of water flowing into Pakistan, so water flowing into Pakistan has not changed, it remains the same. Then why the water shortage in Pakistan? Well the main reason is since the days of Indus Water Treaty (1962) Pakistan population has grown almost 5 times. Back then per capita availability of water for Pakistanis was 5,000 units which was alright. Now the water flow remains the same and population having grown 5 times reduces the per capita availability to only 1,000 units. If population keeps growing the water situation in Pakistan will only get worse, it can't improve. A disciplined approach to population control is the only answer.

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Ahmer

Oct 26, 2013 09:55pm

The support base of PML(N) is urban trading class. It has little interest in rural agricultural economy where the devastating effect of water shortage will be felt first. There is no question that Indus Waters Treaty was myopic and the then dictator thought only short term. The treaty has lost all its utility and is in fact harmful to Pakistan. I do not understand why our rulers do not pursue this dispute with the same vigour as the Kashmir dispute. This was an important issue that Mian Saheb did not even think of raising during his recent meeting with President Obama.

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Imran Ahmed

Oct 26, 2013 11:04pm

I am heartened to see a Federal Minister at least pointing towards two huge crises that are closing in fast. Drought and the population explosion. We will continue to shut our eyes fanatically tight and face neither issue until it is too late. Denialistanis zindabad!

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gozdeki

Oct 27, 2013 02:33am

Check the source of water of the Sindh river and you will find that underground water from the eastern Tibet / Brahmaputra river made it west in earlier years on a regular basis, Gues who dam-ed it now Nihat

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R Awan

Oct 27, 2013 04:14am

Khwaja sahib should stop blaming the past rulers, lets see what he is going to do...

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khanm

Oct 27, 2013 05:58pm

This is my conclusion drawn from this article

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Pradip

Oct 27, 2013 06:22pm

I really do not understand, how come India is responsible in all this. All the rivers are being shared as per Indus water treaty, which has been admired by World bank and all other international organisations. Since 1960 onwards even after 4 wars, India has not broken any clause. Even a recent dispute arrived was also judged in favour of India by International Court Of Arbitration. As per the treaty India has right over 3 eastern rivers and Pakistan has right over 3 western rivers, the minister should also note that growth of Pakistani population from 1960 to till date. Have they built enough dams, irrigation canals, pondages, etc. Statements like this are used for hiding in-efficiency in the work, but inflame people and creates obstacles in bilateral relationships. I sincerely request Dawn to write a column on whole Indus Water Treaty and river water sharing arrangement that has been going till date including figures on water flows from each river. A short article from media like Dawn will help immensely; in getting the message to the people. Thank you.

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Dr yahya hassan bajwa

Oct 27, 2013 09:45pm

Happy to know that the Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Asif has understood this problem.Government has to act now if they want to save Pakistan in the future -which is not too far! Dr yahya hassan bajwa Swiss Green Party Delegate to the European Greens

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Pankaj

Oct 28, 2013 03:32am

@GPR FIX: You are absolutely right ....... but Pakistanis will keep blaming India without looking into its own faults.

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rani raina

Oct 28, 2013 09:36pm

@Dr yahya hassan bajwa: well said

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