Published: 01:27 PM, 13 July 2026 Last Update: 01:29 PM, 13 July 2026
Pakistan’s Water Woes: Mismanagement, not India, at the heart of the crisis
Image: AP
”Pakistans displaced by flooding take shelter on the higher ground of an embankment near the flooded Indus River. The writer argues that Pakistan's accusations against India regarding water supply under the Indus Waters Treaty overlook the real issue: chronic mismanagement of resources within Pakistan itself.
For decades, Pakistan has accused India of choking its water supply under the Indus Waters Treaty. The rhetoric – often amplified by politicians, commentators, and media outlets – paints India as the upper riparian villain capable of “turning off the tap.”
Yet, a closer look at the facts reveals a different story: Pakistan’s water scarcity is less about India’s actions and more about its own chronic mismanagement of resources.
Signed in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) allocated the three eastern rivers – Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej – to India, while Pakistan was guaranteed unrestricted use of the western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – except for limited Indian usage.
India has largely adhered to its obligations. Research shows Pakistan receives around 140 million acre-feet (MAF) of water annually from the western rivers, slightly more than the 135 MAF estimated at the time of the treaty. Even flows in the eastern rivers, though reduced by about 15%, remain significant.
Yet despite this, Pakistan diverts only about 104 MAF for irrigation. The rest – nearly 36 MAF – is either wasted in the system or flows into the Arabian Sea. This wastage alone could transform Pakistan’s water security if managed effectively.
Rising Demand, Stagnant Practices
In the 1950s, Pakistan irrigated 21 million acres using 66 MAF of water. Today, it irrigates 34 million acres with 104 MAF. While the irrigated area has grown, water use per acre remains unchanged. With population growth reducing per capita availability, outdated practices have left Pakistan struggling to meet modern demands.
India, by contrast, has invested heavily in improving water productivity. Despite receiving only 33 MAF from the eastern rivers, India irrigates 26 million acres – nearly matching Pakistan’s output with far less water.
A 2018 World Bank study, Pakistan: Getting More from Water, concluded that Pakistan is well endowed with water resources but undermines its own security through poor governance. The report highlighted:
Weak water data management
Over-exploitation of groundwater
Low crop water productivity
Widespread pollution
Inadequate flood and drought forecasting
The study noted that 32 countries have less water per person than Pakistan, yet their average per capita GDP is ten times higher. The difference lies in management, not availability.
Wastage and Low Productivity
A 2011 analysis by the International Mountain Society confirmed Pakistan receives about 142 MAF annually. Of this, 104 MAF is diverted for irrigation, 9.7 MAF lost in system inefficiencies, and 28 MAF flows to the sea.
The productivity of this water is among the lowest globally. For wheat, Pakistan produces just 0.5kg per cubic meter of water, compared to India’s 1.0kg. Despite repeated warnings, Pakistan has made little effort to improve crop water productivity.
India, meanwhile, has launched schemes such as Per Drop More Crop, watershed development, and micro-irrigation. Over the last decade, it has invested more than ₹1.25 lakh crore in improving water efficiency.
Storage Deficit
Pakistan’s storage capacity is alarmingly low – just 15% of annual river flow, enough for barely 30 days. Since the construction of Tarbela Dam three decades ago, no major storage projects have been completed.
Without adequate reservoirs, Pakistan cannot regulate monsoon flows, which deliver 80% of annual water in just four months. As a result, vast quantities escape unused to the sea.
Groundwater Crisis
Over-extraction of groundwater has compounded the problem. Millions of private tube wells have been dug, leading to an average decline of 1.5 meters per year. Salinity and poor quality further worsen the crisis.
India faces similar challenges but has responded with initiatives like aquifer mapping, groundwater recharge programs, and crop diversification schemes. Punjab’s “Bijli Bachayo, Paisa Kamayo” curbs misuse of free electricity for pumping, while Haryana incentivizes farmers to shift away from water-intensive paddy.
Outdated Irrigation Infrastructure
Pakistan’s irrigation system remains heavily canal-based, plagued by inefficiencies and losses. Modernization efforts have been minimal, limited to small pilots supported by international agencies.
India, in contrast, has embraced technology – using SCADA systems, pipe distribution, micro-irrigation, and farmer-led water user associations. These reforms have significantly improved efficiency.
Inter-Provincial Disputes
Internal politics further complicates Pakistan’s water management. The 1991 Water Apportionment Accord sought to resolve disputes among Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. Yet mistrust persists, stalling projects like the Kalabagh Dam, which could have boosted storage capacity.
Instead of cooperation, provinces accuse each other of misappropriation, reducing water management to a zero-sum game.
Climate change has intensified the need for conservation, but Pakistan has done little beyond rhetoric. India, by contrast, has invested ₹90,000 crore annually in
conservation measures. In the past eight years alone, it conserved 11 BCM of water through tanks, ponds, and recharge structures.
Pakistan’s reaction to India’s suspension of the IWT was to announce plans for small reservoirs. Yet given its financial constraints and poor track record, implementation remains doubtful.
Pakistan’s water scarcity is not a function of inflows but of governance. The 36 MAF wasted annually could secure its future if managed properly. Instead, the narrative of victimhood persists, deflecting attention from systemic failures.
India faces similar pressures – population growth, climate change, and pollution – but has pursued integrated water resource management. Its focus on modernization, conservation, and institutional reforms has yielded tangible results.
Pakistan, meanwhile, remains stuck in the past, clinging to outdated practices and political blame games.
Conclusion
The Indus Waters Treaty was designed to ensure equitable sharing of resources. Six decades later, the challenge is no longer about allocation but about management. Pakistan receives as much or more water than estimated in 1960, yet fails to use it efficiently.
Blaming India may serve political ends, but it does not solve the crisis. The real solution lies in reforming governance, improving crop productivity, investing in storage, modernizing infrastructure, and fostering inter-provincial cooperation.
Until Pakistan embraces integrated water resource management, no amount of inflow will suffice. The water is there – the question is whether Pakistan will finally learn to manage it.
Written by: Kushvinder Vohra (Vohra is the former chairman of Central Water Commission and former Indian Commissioner Indus.)
>> Source: IOL
For decades, Pakistan has accused India of choking its water supply under the Indus Waters Treaty. The rhetoric – often amplified by politicians, commentators, and media outlets – paints India as the upper riparian villain capable of “turning off the tap.”
Yet, a closer look at the facts reveals a different story: Pakistan’s water scarcity is less about India’s actions and more about its own chronic mismanagement of resources.
Signed in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) allocated the three eastern rivers – Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej – to India, while Pakistan was guaranteed unrestricted use of the western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – except for limited Indian usage.
India has largely adhered to its obligations. Research shows Pakistan receives around 140 million acre-feet (MAF) of water annually from the western rivers, slightly more than the 135 MAF estimated at the time of the treaty. Even flows in the eastern rivers, though reduced by about 15%, remain significant.
Yet despite this, Pakistan diverts only about 104 MAF for irrigation. The rest – nearly 36 MAF – is either wasted in the system or flows into the Arabian Sea. This wastage alone could transform Pakistan’s water security if managed effectively.
Rising Demand, Stagnant Practices
In the 1950s, Pakistan irrigated 21 million acres using 66 MAF of water. Today, it irrigates 34 million acres with 104 MAF. While the irrigated area has grown, water use per acre remains unchanged. With population growth reducing per capita availability, outdated practices have left Pakistan struggling to meet modern demands.
India, by contrast, has invested heavily in improving water productivity. Despite receiving only 33 MAF from the eastern rivers, India irrigates 26 million acres – nearly matching Pakistan’s output with far less water.
A 2018 World Bank study, Pakistan: Getting More from Water, concluded that Pakistan is well endowed with water resources but undermines its own security through poor governance. The report highlighted:
Weak water data management
Over-exploitation of groundwater
Low crop water productivity
Widespread pollution
Inadequate flood and drought forecasting
The study noted that 32 countries have less water per person than Pakistan, yet their average per capita GDP is ten times higher. The difference lies in management, not availability.
Wastage and Low Productivity
A 2011 analysis by the International Mountain Society confirmed Pakistan receives about 142 MAF annually. Of this, 104 MAF is diverted for irrigation, 9.7 MAF lost in system inefficiencies, and 28 MAF flows to the sea.
The productivity of this water is among the lowest globally. For wheat, Pakistan produces just 0.5kg per cubic meter of water, compared to India’s 1.0kg. Despite repeated warnings, Pakistan has made little effort to improve crop water productivity.
India, meanwhile, has launched schemes such as Per Drop More Crop, watershed development, and micro-irrigation. Over the last decade, it has invested more than ₹1.25 lakh crore in improving water efficiency.
Storage Deficit
Pakistan’s storage capacity is alarmingly low – just 15% of annual river flow, enough for barely 30 days. Since the construction of Tarbela Dam three decades ago, no major storage projects have been completed.
Without adequate reservoirs, Pakistan cannot regulate monsoon flows, which deliver 80% of annual water in just four months. As a result, vast quantities escape unused to the sea.
Groundwater Crisis
Over-extraction of groundwater has compounded the problem. Millions of private tube wells have been dug, leading to an average decline of 1.5 meters per year. Salinity and poor quality further worsen the crisis.
India faces similar challenges but has responded with initiatives like aquifer mapping, groundwater recharge programs, and crop diversification schemes. Punjab’s “Bijli Bachayo, Paisa Kamayo” curbs misuse of free electricity for pumping, while Haryana incentivizes farmers to shift away from water-intensive paddy.
Outdated Irrigation Infrastructure
Pakistan’s irrigation system remains heavily canal-based, plagued by inefficiencies and losses. Modernization efforts have been minimal, limited to small pilots supported by international agencies.
India, in contrast, has embraced technology – using SCADA systems, pipe distribution, micro-irrigation, and farmer-led water user associations. These reforms have significantly improved efficiency.
Inter-Provincial Disputes
Internal politics further complicates Pakistan’s water management. The 1991 Water Apportionment Accord sought to resolve disputes among Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. Yet mistrust persists, stalling projects like the Kalabagh Dam, which could have boosted storage capacity.
Instead of cooperation, provinces accuse each other of misappropriation, reducing water management to a zero-sum game.
Climate change has intensified the need for conservation, but Pakistan has done little beyond rhetoric. India, by contrast, has invested ₹90,000 crore annually in
conservation measures. In the past eight years alone, it conserved 11 BCM of water through tanks, ponds, and recharge structures.
Pakistan’s reaction to India’s suspension of the IWT was to announce plans for small reservoirs. Yet given its financial constraints and poor track record, implementation remains doubtful.
Pakistan’s water scarcity is not a function of inflows but of governance. The 36 MAF wasted annually could secure its future if managed properly. Instead, the narrative of victimhood persists, deflecting attention from systemic failures.
India faces similar pressures – population growth, climate change, and pollution – but has pursued integrated water resource management. Its focus on modernization, conservation, and institutional reforms has yielded tangible results.
Pakistan, meanwhile, remains stuck in the past, clinging to outdated practices and political blame games.
Conclusion
The Indus Waters Treaty was designed to ensure equitable sharing of resources. Six decades later, the challenge is no longer about allocation but about management. Pakistan receives as much or more water than estimated in 1960, yet fails to use it efficiently.
Blaming India may serve political ends, but it does not solve the crisis. The real solution lies in reforming governance, improving crop productivity, investing in storage, modernizing infrastructure, and fostering inter-provincial cooperation.
Until Pakistan embraces integrated water resource management, no amount of inflow will suffice. The water is there – the question is whether Pakistan will finally learn to manage it.
Written by: Kushvinder Vohra (Vohra is the former chairman of Central Water Commission and former Indian Commissioner Indus.)
>> Source: IOL
