PESHAWAR: Specialists at a nationwide convention right here on Wednesday referred to as for an settlement between Pakistan and Afghanistan on the apportionment of the Kabul River water and warned that development of reservoirs on the river would disturb its total ecology.
Space Research Centre, College of Peshawar organized the daylong nationwide convention titled “Sustainable utilization of the Kabul River: Challenges and alternatives for Pak-Afghan cooperation”.
Peshawar-based Afghan Counsel Basic Prof Moeen Marastial, UoP Vice-chancellor Dr Mohammad Asif, specialists and academicians attended the convention and browse out their papers.
Specialists say development of dams to disturb ecology of the river
In his opening remarks, Dr Asif mentioned that Afghan authorities with the monetary and technical help of India had deliberate development of 12 reservoirs on the Kabul River that will generate 2400 megawatts electrical energy.
He mentioned that development of dams on the river would drastically have an effect on agriculture sector in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because the water circulate in three primary tributaries of the river had already been declined by greater than 50 p.c.
He burdened the necessity for having a bilateral water treaty between Islamabad and Kabul for the cheap and equitable use of the Kabul River water.
Prof Moeen Marastial supported the thought of a bilateral water treaty for having shut collaboration on using shared water. He mentioned that worldwide and regional water legal guidelines may information the 2 international locations in reaching to an settlement on the problem.
He mentioned that his authorities was prepared for negotiation with Pakistan on water points throughout the framework of worldwide conventions together with the Helsinki Conference.
Prof Moeen mentioned that Afghanistan had an settlement with the Central Asian Republics over the distribution of water of the Amu River. He mentioned that his authorities had additionally supplied Iran to signal an settlement on the River Helmand.
He additionally emphasised enchancment of commerce relations between the 2 international locations because the bilateral commerce had declined not too long ago. He mentioned that change of students and college between the Space Research Centre and varied universities of Afghanistan wanted.
The specialists mentioned that the Kabul River performed key position in irrigating lands in Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera and adjoining areas. They mentioned that the river was primarily fed by the Chitral River, which was often known as the Kunar River in Afghanistan.
“Variations overuse of shared water of the Kabul River could possibly be a further irritant in future because of the lack of bilateral water settlement between the 2 neighbors,” they mentioned.
Former vice-chancellor Dr Azmat Hayat mentioned that water sources originated from Afghanistan have been essential for agriculture in Peshawar valley, which was thought of a meals basket for the area. He mentioned that unequal distribution of water may set off linguistic and geographical disputes.
Printed in , October 11th, 2018