HYDERABAD: The Roshan Khayal Forum organised a dialogue at the Hyderabad Press Club where renowned hydrologist Hassan Abbas discussed the challenges associated with the Indus Waters Treaty and their far-reaching impact on Pakistan.
He explained that under the treaty, India was allowed to discharge wastewater through four drains, but there was no restriction on the volume of sewage released, nor was there any clarity regarding its treatment.
He added that the Paragraph 18 of the treaty was vague, noting that besides the Ravi and Sutlej, both countries may divert other drains. Exploiting this ambiguity, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi permitted six additional drains to discharge untreated wastewater.
The water expert emphasised that several generations, particularly in South Punjab and Guddu areas, had suffered badly due to this polluted flow. He linked the rise in liver transplants in these regions to the same contamination.
Referring to the current flood situation in Pakistan, Abbas said that water released from dams on the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers aggravated damages in Pakistan. Many towns and villages established on old riverbeds were flooded, though rivers had not shifted from their natural courses.
Pakistan needed to reopen river pathways as floods may return again next year, he warned. He also highlighted the impact of Pacific ENSO and La Niña phenomena, predicting heavier rains in the coming year. Shorter winters, as seen in 2024, he noted, often reduced rainfall but increased climate variability.
On a positive note, Abbas pointed out that the Indus River’s natural flow had revived ecology and biodiversity, improved fisheries, and supported the Indus Delta. People of Sindh clearly understood the importance of river flows and the benefits it brought, he remarked.
Turning to the reservoir management, the hydrologist suggested that silt should be controlled near dam walls. In Tarbela Dam, silt had accumulated reducing its storage capacity by 45 per cent during last two decades, he said.
He suggested spreading silt across the delta to help reclaim up to 400 square kilometres of land from sea erosion. Abbas also drew the event’s attention to arsenic contamination in irrigation zones where fertilisers were heavily used. He explained that according to research studies, Punjab and Sindh already had more than 40 per cent of their groundwater unsafe for drinking as per the World Health Organization’s standards.
Expressing cautious optimism, the hydrologist stressed that Pakistan has the technology and expertise to improve water management. Integrating solutions such as Aquifer Tests, which are cost-effective and environmentally safe, could significantly improve agriculture and protect natural resources.
