Water Crisis Looms Over Punjab and Sindh as Pakistan Faces 22% Shortage During Rabi Season

Islamabad, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : The water crisis in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces is expected to worsen during the upcoming Rabi season, with a projected 22% reduction in irrigation water. Local media reported this alarming forecast on November 13.

According to the Express Tribune, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has approved the water cut for the Rabi season, which runs from October to March. This decision is based on estimates that only 21.268 million acre-feet of water will flow into the rivers during this period.

IRSA has calculated that the provinces will require a total of 29.183 million acre-feet of water this season. As a result, farmers in Punjab and Sindh may struggle with insufficient water for their winter crops.

The anticipated water shortage could adversely affect various crops, including wheat, tobacco, barley, mustard, chickpeas, lentils, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes. Timely irrigation is crucial for wheat farming; any deficiency during the crop’s growth phase could severely impact yields.

A report released in September noted that the groundwater crisis in Pakistan is not solely due to an actual water shortage but is exacerbated by government failures and delays in policy implementation. Weak policies and a lack of clear responsibility among different government departments have led to regulatory gaps, hindering accountability and the provision of adequate water resources.

Pakistan often blames India, climate change, and population growth for its water woes. However, a report from the European Times suggests that the real causes of water scarcity in Pakistan include poor policies, mismanagement, unequal water distribution among provinces, water theft, and corruption.

Despite having large rivers and significant groundwater reserves, Pakistan continues to grapple with a water shortage. The unequal distribution of canal water, outdated irrigation methods, excessive groundwater extraction, lack of investment, and ineffective government institutions have transformed the water management issue into a severe crisis.

Following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, last year, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). India has stated that this suspension will remain in effect until Pakistan ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. Since then, Pakistani lawmakers have begun blaming India for the water crisis. Reports indicate that Pakistani leaders are using this issue to divert attention from their own failures.

The report emphasizes that no Pakistani government has seriously attempted to address these issues. Consequently, proper water usage for agriculture remains unachieved. The canal system is aging and deteriorating, groundwater levels are plummeting, and enforcement of regulations is weak. These failures cannot be attributed to India.

According to the report, Pakistan has not built a single major reservoir for water storage in the past five decades. There have been insufficient measures to better utilize river water or prevent groundwater depletion. Over 1.5 million tube wells are extracting groundwater without effective regulation. Subsidies on electricity and power theft have further complicated the situation.

The European Times report indicates that the Pakistani government is well aware of these issues. While it has acknowledged the need for essential reforms multiple times, concrete actions have yet to be taken.

The report concludes that the groundwater crisis in Pakistan is more a result of administrative failures and delays in policy implementation than an actual shortage of water. Additionally, the division of responsibilities across various government departments has made it difficult to ensure proper management and long-term use of water resources.