My research on Pakistan's water security usually includes reviewing academic and governmental literature on the issue, but I also try and keep up with recent events that are germane. Last week, an interactive session called "Pakistan's Water Sector Strategy and Alternative Strategy to Resolve Critical Water Issues" was organized by the Pakistan Network of Rivers, Dams and People (PNRDP). Mr. A. N. G Abbasi, a prominent water expert in Pakistan who was formerly in charge of the Technical Committee on Water Resources, spoke at length about the various water security challenges Pakistan's current administration is facing. 

Along with the problem of water disputes with India, Mr. Abbasi highlighted Pakistan's gross misuse of the water that it did have. Water distribution amongst Pakistan's provinces remained a point of contention, highlighting the lack of legal framework when it comes to environmental problems in most developing countries. The Minister of Irrigation of one of Pakistan's provinces, Sindh, Mr. Syed Murad Ali Shah, was also present and expressed frustration towards the Department of Irrigation, stating that many of its employees were only skilled at writing accounts, not actually dealing with problems in the field. Lack of expertise in technical disciplines continues to plague Pakistan's efforts to fight environmental problems.

Other goals mentioned at the convention were water conservation and dealing with water pollution. Presently, many factories operate without water treatment plants, instead directly releasing harmful waste into bodies of water, further complicating the problem of water stress by rendering even less water potable.

The Kishenganga dispute, details of which can be found in one of my previous blogs, was in the news too (http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=207389). Pakistan was disappointed, with good reason, with the World Bank's neutral expert's decision on an earlier case (Baglihar Dam; see my previous blogs). Pakistan wants justice, and is thus close to invoking a Court of Arbitration and is keeping the neutral expert option on the table only as a last resort.