Pakistan’s Ambassador to US stressed the importance of a fair and just distribution of water under IWT, calling it critical to water security and regional stability.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States stressed the importance of a fair and just distribution of water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on Friday, calling it critical to water security and regional stability.
“The construction of a number of dams on upper riparian sections of rivers under Indian control eroded trust and created a slew of crises for Pakistan, including flooding, droughts, water scarcity, and disruption of energy supplies.” Masood Khan took note.
“The outstanding issues must be resolved quickly and definitively,” said the envoy, who was virtually present at a discussion on “Pakistan’s Energy and Water Security Landscape.” “As a keynote speaker, Baker Institute, Rice University Houston.
Khan’s comments came as the first hearing in a dispute between Pakistan and India under the IWT began on Friday at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, following the Modi-led Indian government’s persistent refusal to address Pakistan’s concerns at the Permanent Indus Commission and during government-level talks.
The case before the court concerns Pakistan’s concerns about India’s construction of the 330 MW Kishenganga hydroelectric project on the River Jhelum, as well as Indian plans to build the 850 MW Ratle hydroelectric project on the River Chenab in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
During his virtual meeting, the Pakistani diplomat stated that initiatives such as the Green Alliance and Climate Smart Agriculture will benefit farmers and provide a framework for conserving water, building small dams, and improving yields of staple crops like wheat, rice, and cotton.
With the assistance of international financial institutions, Pakistan initiated reforms for water conservation, the transition to modern agricultural technologies, reforestation, and water management and metering.
According to Ambassador Khan, Pakistan has commissioned more than 10 GW of new power generation and 1 GW of wind and solar power-based projects in the last decade; however, he noted that the gap still needed to be bridged.
“By focusing on indigenous resources, we can diversify our energy mix and reduce our reliance on oil and gas imports,” he said. Khan highlighted that alternate energy, especially solar and wind, was a growth industry in Pakistan and may well be a long-term viable solution for meeting Pakistan’s energy demands.
Ambassador Khan highlighted the solid foundations of the Pak-US partnership in agriculture, water, and energy sectors, saying that the country was working with the US to improve agricultural efficiency and water management.
“What we most value is the growing interest and exposure of the US private sector in these areas, both independently and through the US International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC),” he added.
“The import of US energy and agriculture technology, as well as US-supported indigenous green technology production, is critical,” he said.
He emphasised Pakistan’s efforts to promote mutual linkages and university-to-university partnerships, particularly between agriculture universities, and stated that Pakistan had a nascent interface with the US in agri-tech that was poised to develop further.
In order to avoid conflicts and ensure the equitable distribution of water, it’s important for both India and Pakistan to adhere to the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve any disputes that may arise.