ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday asked the government to review the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960 inserting new provisions enabling Pakistan to get more water for its rivers.
A resolution in this regard was moved by Senator Karim Ahmed Khawaja and passed by the House. Speaking on the resolution, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that Pakistan was facing water shortage issue currently. Unfortunately several projects for storing water like the construction of Kalabagh and Akori dams had become controversial, aggravating the issue.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), he said, remained in power for five years but the water issue was not included as part of composite dialogue with India.
He said currently it was not possible to review the Indus Water Treaty as there were legal requirements. Similarly, he added, both the countries would have to be on same page and consensus would have to be developed prior to reviewing the treaty.
He was of the view India had not prevented Pakistan to construct any dam to overcome water shortage. Thus there was a need to carry out introspection as Pakistan could construct dams on its own rivers as well. He said with regard to Kishan Ganga dam, Jamat Ali Shah’s case was in front of us.
Earlier speaking on the resolution, Senator Mushahidullah Khan said when the Indus Water Treaty was reached with India, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the minister for natural resources and later he was made foreign minister.
Senator Taj Haider said the mover’s standpoint was just and it should be taken at international forum as well. Senator Farhatullah Babar said the water issue should be made part of the comprehensive dialogue with India while Sherry Rehman and Sasasi Palejo said there was a need to review the treaty have more water for rivers.
