Indus Basin

India, Pakistan and the World Bank have reached an impasse over issues of the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower power plants. Both countries met at Secretary level talks held in the Bank’s Washington D.C. offices last month. The Bank’s vague statement at the end of the talks confirmed both countries’ continued commitment to the preservation of the Treaty, but also disclosed that no concluding agreement had been reached.

There are two opposing points of view regarding the forum to resolve Pakistan’s concerns regarding the design of two power plants. While Pakistan has moved to establish an International Court of Arbitration, India argues that the matters must be heard by a Neutral Expert and no other. The Treaty provides for these two forums, in cases of disputes that may arise between the two countries with respect to the design of any hydropower projects proposed by India on any of the Western Rivers of the Indus Basin. Reports indicate India has refused four different options of forum presented by the Bank.

The determination of the Neutral Expert in the Baglihar difference (2007) and the Interim and Final Awards of the International Court of  rbitration in the Kishenganga arbitration (2013) have clarified the law in several areas of the Treaty. The cases cast new light on the manner in which the Treaty assigns dispute resolution responsibilities between the Neutral Expert and the International Court of Arbitration. This paper seeks to explain the current impasse in light of these decisions, and recommends tactical and strategy options for Pakistan to negotiate with.

Rivers cross political boundaries where water issues cut across national, subnational, and sector boundaries. We hold that addressing the scaled nature of interactions between stakeholders is a helpful way to account for the complexity of transboundary water governance and the design of governing institutions. We argue that identifying stakeholder interactions at different scales of governance is a key to understand the shifts in the nature and degrees of cooperation and conflict. Using the TWINS framework, this shifting pattern is studied in the part of Indus basin that is within Pakistan. We use historical event data from the Pakistan side of the Indus basin to show the key events of cooperation and conflict at regional, national and sub-national scales. We find varying degrees of cooperation and conflict at different scales. We show that without recognizing scale-based interactions among riparians, the nature and depth of conflict and cooperation among all stakeholders remains ob...

This essay originates as a response to the judicial interest developed in water in 2018. The Supreme Court’s suo motu hearings on the drinking water situation in Karachi and Sindh have grown into other suo motu proceedings regarding drinking water in Lahore, the use of groundwater by cement manufacturers in the Salt Range, the quality of bottled drinking water in Lahore and the notification of the CJ-PM Diamer-Bhasha Dam Fund. Such a heightening interest in water litigation would be complimented with some knowledge of water law in Pakistan.

However, this essay should not be seen as an attempt to address so many areas of judicial interest in water. Instead, the effort in this paper is to identify water laws and principles as they emerged in Pakistan’s constitutional history, and provide, hopefully, a framework within which discussion on water laws can be more structured and beneficial to the stakeholders outside the irrigation and hydropower scales of water.

The Indus basin—one of the largest fluvial-controlled landscapes of the world, provides a major agro-economic resource base while showcasing unique morphometry along its course. However, despite its large socioeconomic relevance in South Asia, a distinct account of morphometric variations down its course still remains elusive. Here, for the first time a quantitative demarcation of the Indus basin into—upper, middle, and lower basin is proposed based on analyses of critical morphometric parameters (viz. gradient/river length ratio, elevation-relief ratio, channel width, sinuosity, and slope). Geostatistical and hydrological operations performed on digital elevation models, suggest that the highest and lowest relief sectors are tectonically more stable than the middle relief sector, inferred from a convex hypsometric curve. Elevation-relief ratio for the basin indicates tectonic stability with ~ 31% of remnant rock still in place. Cross-sectional transects also demonstrate anomalous patterns that deviate from predictive characteristics of youthful, mature, and senile stages of river development. All parameters are spatially coalesced to provide a first-ever holistic morphometric account of the Indus basin while describing fine-scale planform variations of the spectacular dynamics of this enormous river basin.

The Partition of India divided the largest contiguous gravity flow irrigation system on the planet, creating a new riparian relationship between India and Pakistan over the Indus Basin. Whilst the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 has been successful in defining the rights of the riparians over the rivers of the Indus Basin for the past six decades, new challenges such as climate change and unsustainable groundwater mining are raising water- and food-security concerns that the Treaty was neither intended to nor envisioned to deal with. Emerging regional developments, such as China’s One Belt One Road Project and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor also challenge the fundamental regional security framework. In this paper, the emerging challenges of the Indus Basin are set against these new challenges as well as the past application of the Treaty. The review of the application of the Treaty reveals that while India and Pakistan make rights-based claims on the Treaty, they are willing to accept needs-based decisions, possibly opening new areas of consensus in trans-boundary water management. In examining this ageing Treaty’s limitations against these development, new transboundary water management challenges, and opportunities, emerge.

Petrophysics and Rock physics modules are most widely used from last few decades for the precise measurement of reservoir characteristics Present study investigated the relationship between petrophysical and rock physics analysis in mapping detail reservoir properties. Eocene carbonate rocks are the focused zone including Sakesar and Chorgali Formations of current research study with the reference of hydrocarbon explorations. Rock Physics Parameters such as compressional velocity (Vp), shear wave (Vs), acoustic impedance (AI), Lambda-Rho (λρ), Mu-Rho (μρ), shear modulus (µ) and bulk modulus (k) whereas petrophysical properties including volume of shale (Vsh), porosities (density porosity, neutron porosity, sonic porosity, effective porosity), permeability, water saturations (Sw) and hydrocarbon saturations (Sh) have been calculated and constructed different cross-plots for the purpose of acquire accurate and desired information. Interpretations of Integrated rock physics and petrophysical modules of meyal-01 well reveal that Sakesar and Chorgali Formation having great capability to produce hydrocarbons. Resistivity logs show a good quality of hydrocarbon profiles at the depth of 3850 and 4050 m between Msfl, LLs and LLd. such interpretation is also supporting by cross-over effect between density and neutron logs. Sakesar and Chorgali Formation having 13 and 11 % shale content, 4 and 5 % effective porosity, 18 and 3 darcy permeability, 35 and 45 %, water saturations and 65 and 55 % and Hydrocarbon saturations respectively. Cross-plot between Rhob and Nphi logs recognized payable zone for hydrocarbon of Sakkesar and Chorgali Formations at the depth of 3850 and 4050 respectively. Such interpretations also supported by rock physics parameters i.e, compressional wave velocity Vp, poisson ratio elastic parameters such as Bulk modulus and shear modulus have greatly been reduced across the payable portion of Eocene reservoirs.

The late-Permian succession of the Upper-Indus Basin is represented by carbonate dominated Zaluch Group, which consists of Amb, Wargal and Chhidru Formations. These formations accumulated on the southwestern shelf of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean, north of hydrocarbon-producing Permian strata of the Arabian Peninsula. The reservoir properties of mixed clasticcarbonate Chhidru Formation are evaluated based on Petrography, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Xrays-Spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. The diagenetic features, ranging from marine (isopachous fibrous calcite, micrite), through meteoric (blocky calcite-I, neomorphism and dissolution) to burial (poikilotopic cement, blocky calcite-II-III, fractures, fracture-filling and stylolites) are recognized. Major porosity types included fracture and moldic, while inter-and intra-particle porosities also existed. The visual porosity from 1.5-7.14% with an average of 5.15% was recognized. The sandstone facies (CMF-4) had the highest average porosity of 10.7%, while siliciclastic grainstone microfacies (CMF-3) showed average porosity of 5.3%. The siliciclastic mudstone microfacies (CMF-1) and siliciclastic wacke-packestone microfacies (CMF-2) showed the lowest porosity of 4.8% and 5.0%, respectively. Diagenetic processes like cementation, neomorphism, stylolitization and compaction have reduced the primary porosities. However, processes of dissolution and fracturing have produced secondary porosity. On average, the Chhidru Formation in Nammal Gorge (Salt Range) showed promising and at Gula Khel Gorge (Trans-Indus) lowest porosity.

Water is essential for life, agriculture, and industrialization; however, a rapid increase in population is constantly causing water scarcity and pollution in Pakistan. Mining activities produce the potential toxic element (PTE) accumulation, which lead to unnatural enrichment, ecological pollution, and environmental degradation. The ecological resources impeded by the PTEs cause serious abnormalities in the population through dermal contact, inhalation, and digestion. Mining induced anthropogenic activities are well-known causes of contamination of ecological resources. The produced effluents have drastic effects by changing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the concerned resources. The Central Indus Basin is a well-known coal regime, where more than 160 mines are active at present. The samples that were collected from the mine water, groundwater, surface water, and the soil were analyzed by atomic absorption and elemental determination analysis (EDA) for an asse...

Water is essential for life, agriculture, and industrialization; however, a rapid increase in population is constantly causing water scarcity and pollution in Pakistan. Mining activities produce the potential toxic element (PTE) accumulation, which lead to unnatural enrichment, ecological pollution, and environmental degradation. The ecological resources impeded by the PTEs cause serious abnormalities in the population through dermal contact, inhalation, and digestion. Mining induced anthropogenic activities are well-known causes of contamination of ecological resources. The produced effluents have drastic effects by changing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the concerned resources. The Central Indus Basin is a well-known coal regime, where more than 160 mines are active at present. The samples that were collected from the mine water, groundwater, surface water, and the soil were analyzed by atomic absorption and elemental determination analysis (EDA) for an asse...

Food insecurity is a sensitive issue in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India where it affects about 25% of the population – equivalent to over 300 million people or one third of the globally food insecure population. In the Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) in Pakistan, the area under irrigation has expanded greatly over the past five decades enhancing agricultural production to meet increased food and fibre demands. The water demand associated with increased population and subsequent increases in irrigation areas has been met through increased groundwater usage for irrigation mainly from tubewells. As a result, in areas of fresh groundwater quality, almost half of the irrigation supplies come from groundwater. However, since the 1980s, pumping of groundwater for supplementary irrigation has reduced groundwater levels significantly in some areas. Increased groundwater use had induced leakage from rivers and canals to groundwater, which has become the predominant form of surface water and groundwater interaction. Surface and groundwater are highly connected due to the sandy nature of the alluvial aquifer of the Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) of Pakistan. In areas of fresh groundwater, levels continue to drop while in saline areas there are issues of waterlogging and expansion of saline areas.
To help sustainably manage this resource, a new regional 5km-resolution groundwater model has been built for entire IBIS in Pakistan in conjunction with the ongoing development of an integrated river system model of Pakistan. This integrated modelling framework considers physical interactions and conjunctive use of surface and groundwater. The interaction between both models can assist Pakistan in developing an overall integrated water resource model of the Indus basin. The groundwater model serves as a foundation to better understand groundwater dynamics and groundwater budgets on a regional and sub-regional scale, surface-groundwater interaction, assess the impact of development on fresh and saline groundwater areas on multiple scales (e.g., future solute-transport child models), help mitigate the response of water demand/supply to external changes (e.g., in climate, land-use, and water policy), as well as help build a national water resource plan for the IBIS of Pakistan.

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the spatial and temporal performance of the Climate Hazard Group InfraRed Precipitation Satellite (CHIRPS) against Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) 3B42/3B43 v. 7 and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM)-based Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG V06), from 2000 to 2013. Several statistical metrics were used to assess the performance of CHIRPS over the Indus Basin, and its hydrological utility is also assessed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The Gilgit and Soan basins were selected for hydrological modelling. The results demonstrate the spatial and temporal dependency of CHIRPS, i.e. better performance was observed in the Lower Indus Basin (LIB) while poor performance was observed in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB). The hydrological assessment of CHIRPS revealed poor performance (overestimation of streamflow) across the Gilgit Basin during both calibration and validation periods. Satisfactory to good performance was obtained across the Soan Basin.

Agriculture of Pakistan relies on the Indus basin, which is facing severe water scarcity conditions. Poor irrigation practices and lack of policy reforms are major threats for water and food security of the country. In this research, alternative water-saving strategies are evaluated through a high spatio-temporal water footprint (WF) assessment (1997-2016) for the Punjab and Sindh provinces, which cover an irrigated area of 17 million hectares in the Indus basin of Pakistan. The SPARE:WATER model is used as a spatial decision support tool to calculate the WF and establish alternative management plans for more sustainable water use. The average water consumption (WF area) is estimated to 182 km 3 yr −1 , composed of 75% blue water (irrigation water from surface water and groundwater sources), 17% green water (precipitation) and 8% grey water (water used to remove soil salinity or dilute saline irrigation water). Sugarcane, cotton, and rice are highly water-intensive crops, which consume 57% of the annual water use. However, WF area can be reduced by up to 35% through optimized cropping patterns of the existing crops with the current irrigation settings and even by up to 50% through the combined implementation of optimal cropping patterns and improved irrigation technologies, i.e., sprinkler and drip irrigation. We recommend that the economic impact of these water-saving strategies should be investigated in future studies to inform stakeholders and policymakers to achieve a more sustainable water policy for Pakistan.

This examination of climate impacts in the Indus River basin of Pakistan is one of five case studies sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the other four basins are the Mekong, Zambezi, la Plata, and Nile). The Indus case study
brought together 25 scientists and planners to explore the potential impacts of climate change, using a variety of modelling and empirical approaches and working at a variety of scales -­from the national to the local. The Indus basin may be divided into three main regions for purposes of impact assessment: 1) the Upper Basin or western rivers, allocated by treaty to Pakistan; 2) the Eastern Rivers, allocated by treaty to India; and 3) the Main System in Pakistan [figure 1). This case study deals with the Pakistani part of the Indus Basin. Consideration of the Eastern Rivers was limited to assumptions about inflows to Pakistan. The case study further concentrates on computer modelling of hydrologic impacts in the Upper Basin and water resources impacts in the Main System.

BA Honours Thesis for Politics Department, Bates College, 2012. Abstract: In 1947 India and Pakistan, sworn enemies on all fronts, managed to settle a water dispute on the Indus Basin eventually signing one of the most successful treaties that have since existed on the water front. I investigate this puzzle of cooperation in my thesis. Ultimately I show that the Indus Waters Treaty succeeded due to the intervention of an epistemic community which managed to depoliticize the dispute and establish an equitable treaty between the two sides. Without the contribution of the epistemic community the outcome of cooperation would most likely have been unsuccessful. I specify also that the initial impetus for cooperation came in the form of an international idea on dam construction which “convinced” India and (epiphenomenally) Pakistan that the dispute on the Indus needed to be resolved urgently and cooperatively.This is only part of the explanation however; the research conducted in this thesis leads to the conclusion that the distribution of bargaining capabilities between the signatories played a central role in determining the empowerment of the epistemic community, which then intervened to ensure a successful outcome of cooperation.