Politics turning parochial

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 parties have engaged in harsh exchanges after the PPP insisted on using the Benazir Income Support Programme as the main conduit for providing early relief to the flood victims in Punjab. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was quick to dismiss this suggestion.

In the ensuing tit-for-tat criticism, the two sides have revived debates over several issues, including the canals project that was previously postponed pending consensus. Most political parties in Sindh interpreted the Punjab CM’s statements as a fresh assault on the decision of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in April this year, which effectively put off consideration of the canals project indefinitely.

The so-called strategic canals plan had sparked a wave of protests by political parties, farmers’ associations, lawyers’ forums, and civil society groups. At its peak, the protests included a prolonged blockade of inter-provincial highways. A hurriedly convened, overdue meeting of the CCI then endorsed the federal government’s policy, stating that no further action would be taken until mutual understanding was evolved among the provinces.

The CCI’s statement also directed: “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.” Furthermore, the Planning Division and IRSA were instructed to ensure consultation with all stakeholders, in the interest of national cohesion, to address any 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. Since the CCI is a constitutional forum, its decisions are binding on all stakeholders.

The recent statements by some Punjab government leaders have reignited debate in Sindh. Historically, representatives of the Sindh and Punjab governments reached a draft agreement in 1945; however, the Punjab government never ratified it. Under the Indus Water Treaty, 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 the sharing of river waters between Punjab and Sindh persisted until the Water Accord of 1991 was signed. Many in Sindh had reservations about the accord, citing the questionable political legitimacy of the Jam Sadiq Ali government at the time. Since then, it has been alleged that the accord has not been implemented in both letter and spirit.

Currently, IRSA prepares water shortage forecasts in early Kharif and uses a contested three-tier formula for water distribution. After IRSA issued a water availability certificate for the Cholistan scheme—despite objections from Sindh—its credibility has been questioned by the Sindh government and other stakeholders.

Recently, the Sindh High Court stopped the federal member of IRSA (belonging to Punjab) from continuing in office. Clause C of the executive order issued by then-President Pervez Musharraf on July 10, 2000, had reserved the position for an expert from Sindh. The order was protected under Article 270-AA of the Constitution, which safeguards chief executive orders; however, a federal member from Punjab was appointed in 2010 instead.

Disputes over river flows and water apportionment are common worldwide. Upstream states or regions are typically accused of usurping the share of downstream counterparts. In 1948, India used its upstream location to coerce Pakistan into an agreement that deprived it of three eastern rivers. Recently, India has unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, causing further concern.

The people of Sindh remain worried. Pakistan also receives approximately 20 million acre-feet (MAF) of water from the Kabul River, which rises in the Sanglakh Range—located in mountains northwest of Kabul. The 700-kilometer-long river passes by Kabul and Jalalabad in Afghanistan before entering Pakistan.

Shared rivers are best acknowledged as a shared resource. Several international treaties establish and protect the water rights of lower riparian states. Given the highly polarized political landscape, irresponsible statements and actions serve as a great disservice to the federation and the cooperative management of Pakistan’s vital water resources.
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