Pakistan Water Crisis: River flows have now dropped significantly in all three major regions of Pakistan, in a direct fallout of India controlling the flow after putting the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance on April 23.
Pakistan now desperately awaits the monsoon for some relief. As per Pakistan’s official data reviewed by CNN-News18, the cusecs flow of water as on June 20 in Pakistan is almost 20 per cent down compared to same date last year.
In the Punjab region of Pakistan, the water flow on June 20 stands at 1,10,500 cusecs, down 20 per cent from 1,30,800 cusecs on June 20 last year.
Not just Punjab, water flow is down in the key region of Sindh now. The water flow in Sindh is at 1,33,000 cusecs, down from 1,70,000 cusecs on the same date last year. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, the water flow is down to 2,600 cusecs on June 20 from 2,900 cusecs on the same day last year.
The situation in Pakistan is clearly grave, especially for the late Kharif season from June till September.
Pakistan had anticipated a 21% water shortage due to India’s steps in the Kharif season — the shortage has now almost reached that level, the latest data shows.
India is planning to link the waters of Indus and Chenab with the Beas and build a 160-km long tunnel to take the water to the heartland till Gangasagar. This could make the situation even more difficult for Pakistan in the days to come.
In a statement last month, Pakistan said a “crisis had been created by Indian short supplies in Chenab River”, and this would lead to shortages in the Kharif season.
Pakistan has so far sent four letters expressing concerns over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and urging India to reconsider the decision. India has made it clear that the treaty would remain in abeyance and that “water and blood cannot flow together”.
