It is a water paradox out there. The government plans to build new canals on the Indus River to support modern corporate farming under the Green Pakistan Initiative. The project, formally launched last month in Cholistan amid uproar by Sindh, has turned into a full-fledged regional standoff. Yet, as always, the real issue is being buried under senseless political bickering and endless bureaucratic incompetence.

Pakistan’s water needs are undoubtedly increasing. Keeping this in mind, a discussion on water usage is more relevant now than ever, especially with water reservoirs running critically dry this month. The rapidly growing population and worsening food security challenges have further complicated the situation. The agricultural sector certainly needs a swift expansion, but that too requires a steady and reliable water supply. And this is where the authorities’ failures come to light.

In theory, the new canal system aims to address these needs. Proponents argue that it can bring vast, untouched areas of uncultivated land into production, attract massive investment, and boost the fragile rural economy. The argument is valid, and the project would have been a step toward prosperity in an ideal world. However, the deepening water crisis in Pakistan is more than meets the eye. Sindh has its own set of historical reasons for crying foul. It sees the project as another calculated attempt by Punjab to take more water, and fears for its rightful water share being “further” usurped. Both sides believe they are fighting a fair fight, but what they need to realize is that this bitter bout cannot be won by facts alone.

Political leaders discussing the matter must shift the dialogue from “who has what right” to “what is right”, and stop indulging in pointless infighting

Ironically, the real issue of water management and conservation is not even being discussed. The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) statement regarding 60 percent of river water being wasted before reaching farmlands is yet to jolt policymakers into action. This happens in a country where an overwhelming 93 percent of the water is used for agriculture. These numbers alone should have been enough to force an urgent rethink, but, as expected, authorities continue to ignore the obvious. Political leaders discussing the matter must shift the dialogue from “who has what right” to “what is right”, and stop indulging in pointless infighting. The situation demands immediate steps to address the current water woes, which have been aggravated by poor irrigation methods, unlined watercourses, and outdated flood irrigation.

Moreover, it is sad to see that not much attention has been paid to increasing Pakistan’s critically low water storage capacity over the years. This indeed is a great injustice to the country. The incumbent government must change that and start investing in modern, high-capacity water storage infrastructure. It must make the maximum use of the millions of acre-feet of precious water that go straight into the sea following seasonal, erratic rains and glacier melting. Priority must be given to small, cost-effective reservoirs that are specifically designed to capture and store monsoon runoff. Additionally, farmers need to be trained in water conservation and rainwater harvesting techniques. However, this requires a strong commitment sans patchwork solutions.

On the issue at hand, the idea of new canals is technically not bad on its own. However, it is likely to create more problems than it solves if pursued without a proper strategy. The conversation must move toward joint solutions by addressing the concerns of all stakeholders. The Indus River sustains the entire country, and its future cannot be dictated by shortsighted maneuvers. If new canals are to be a game changer, they must be planned keeping water security, equity, and sustainability in mind.