Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Water and Power Ministry has persistently failed in making headway in implementing the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) despite a water shortage.

Sources told Daily Times that the main cause for an inordinate delay in implementation of this treaty is bureaucracy and the friendship of the top functionaries of Pakistan with the Indian government. Therefore, no special focus is being placed on IWT by the government.

Sources said that there are ambiguities in certain clauses of IWT and India is engaged in building new dams continuously over its Western rivers by taking advantage of these ambiguities.

On the other hand, the government has not taken a serious review of ambiguous and disputed clauses of this treaty nor has it has given a serious thought to it. Resultantly water flow in rivers is depleting in the country and the water shortfall for drinking purpose and agriculture requirements is touching the high peaks.

Trust deficit among the provinces is contributing to weaken this treaty besides creating bottlenecks in equitable distribution of water. The attitude of provinces has politicised this issue and the government is constantly failing in devising any water policy. The process of judicious distribution of water is becoming controversial and the provinces trust on the federation is dwindling.

Sources said no one among Pakistan and India can undo this treaty but it has become fragile owing to its ambiguous clauses and negligence of Pakistani authorities. This state of affairs can give rise to the ever worst water crisis for Pakistan in the coming years.

The underground water level has lowered to alarming proportion in Pakistan during the last few years and even potable water is not available for 27.2 million Pakistanis. The situation can worsen further if no steps are taken by government on war footing basis.

The Water and Power Ministry officials said the water shortfall is scaling up tremendously and 1,000 per capita water is available in the country while 5000 per capita water was available five years back.

Experts opined that water scarcity is a major problem in the country and if the government fails to hammer out water policy then a water war will start at country level.

The ministry officials said India is not violating Indus Water Treaty as India suspends water flow to Pakistan for a few hours and then releases it.