Sub-national Water Cooperation
Water partnership within Pakistan has been rendered difficult by a number of factors. Water sharing is a difficult exercise; questions of turns in access to water and water theft (including degradation of infrastructure in view of theft by users) commonly increase tensions. In addition to those distribution issues, Pakistan has seen ecological degradation becoming a source of increased tension; saline affluent, run-off chemicals and depleted groundwater resources are threatening the livelihood and providing the basis for renewed conflicts.
Sub-national water cooperation is a field of constant innovation, where strategy renewal, creativity and flexibility are essential. South Asia has extensive experience in attempting to resolve water conflicts and foster partnerships within national borders. The conference will attempt to harvest up-to-date research and success stories in that field, as well as describe lesson learnt. This knowledge will enable trust to be built within and between provinces, in turn facilitating cooperation at the cross-boundary level.
