Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) has urged the government to take notice of Indian water aggression against Pakistan, devise a national water policy and convene an All Parties Conference (APC) at the earliest to solicit recommendations from water experts, professionals and representatives of the growers' organisation for the proposed water policy.
The Board raised these demands at a meeting of its core committee held here on Friday with its Patron in Chief and Central Niab Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Mian Muhammad Aslam in the chair. The committee observed that closure of river water on Pakistan by India would be a tragedy bigger than Dhakka Fall. Through a unanimously adopted resolution asking for formulation of a national water policy also urged the government to declare Indian water aggression and its threats of closing river water as the biggest challenge for the country. They also urged for challenging the Indus Basin Water Treaty in the International Court of Justice.
Aslam directed the KBP high ups to extend its membership and launch a countrywide move to build public opinion on Indian Water Aggression for putting pressure on the Pakistan government to construct new dams and raising the issue at international forums.
Addressing the participants of the meeting, JI Niab Ameer Mian Muhammad Aslam said that though East Pakistan debacle was a big tragedy of country's history but recent threats by Indian rulers and water aggression was also a big challenge for the country. Already Pakistan's area under cultivation had reduced to 21.2 million hectares from 22.3 million hectares because of shortage of water.
In some areas, even water was not available for drinking. Shortage started in 1948 and continues till date and it is the biggest issue of all the issues being faced by Pakistan, Aslam added. He alleged this issue did not emerge suddenly but a result of a foreign conspiracy. Water availability which was recorded at 5,830 cubic meter per person in 1950 had limit to only 1000 cubic meter presently and would further go down to 550 cubic meter per person by year 2025, he said and added that successive governments continued to leave this important issue to their successors which resulted in the present state.
He claimed that canal water shortage was recorded at 2 percent in year 1996 but it touched 43 percent in year 2000. India by constructing new reservoirs have attained the capability of stopping Sutluj, Bias and Ravi water by 100 per cent while can stop water of Chenab, Jhelum and Sindh by 80 percent. While Pakistan could not build a single dam during last 37 years. He urged the government to take emergent steps for resolving this issue. Central KBP President Chaudhry Nisar Ahmad, General Secretary Arslan Khan Khakwani, Assistant Secretary General Chaudhry Akhtar Mayo, Central Secretary Information Haji Muhammad Ramzan and others attended the meeting.
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