IMPACT OF FUTURE WATER USES OF AFGHANISTAN ON

PAKISTAN

26 Augist 2015

• There are nine (9) small and large rivers common between Pakistan and Afghanistan

• Kabul is the major one forming 90% of the total waters of common rivers

• Names and annual water contributions of common rivers at the entry point in Pakistan are

IMPACT OF FUTURE WATER USES OF AFGHANISTAN ON PAKISTAN

COMMON RIVERS WITH AFGHANISTANMAIN RIVERS MAJOR TRIBUTARIES AVERAGE ANNUAL

INFLOWS (MAF)

KHYBER PAKHTOONKHWAKabul Chitral/Konar 17.44 Kurram Kaitu & Tochi 0.89Gomal Zhob & Kandar 0.79

BALOCHISTANAbdul Wahab Stream Turwa 0.0039Kandar Nagandi Oba, Ashiwat 0.0212Kand Tirkha 0.00293

Kadanai Tashrabad, Aghbergai, Hasna Zemal, Maran, Warjaroba

0.0058

Pishin Lora/ Bore Nallah 0.095Kaisar Gori 0.0175

Total: 19.266

COMMON RIVERS WITH AFGHANISTANIN KHYBER PAKHTOONKHWA

COMMON RIVERS WITH AFGHANISTAN IN BALOCHISTAN

Annual Flow = 8.0 MAF

Catchment Area Pakistan Afghanistanof Kabul River 15,000 km2 53,000 km2

Annual Flow = 17.4 MAFAnnual Flow within Afghanistan = 9.4 MAF

Summary of Current and Future Afghanistan Agricultural Uses(Source: Toos Ab Consulting Engineers Co. Report No. 430321-2264-2; Vol-8 Agricultural Studies)

Region

AreaUnder Cultivation

Crop Water Demandper Acre

Total Water Demand for Agriculture

Current (in 2005)

Future (in 2030)

Current (in 2005)

Future (in 2030)

Current (in 2005)

Future (in 2030)

(acres) (acres) (ac-ft/acre) (ac-ft/acre) (MAF) (MAF)

Parvan Plains 129,092 156,682 3.0 5.0 0.38 0.79

NangarharPlains 202,540 390,260 4.2 5.0 0.85 1.95

Kabul & LogarPlains 120,855 195,449 4.4 4.4 0.53 0.85

Sum 452,487 742,391 3.9* 4.8* 1.76 3.59

% Increase in Total + 64% + 24% + 104%

* weighted average of all three agricultural plains

CP

CP

CP

Sr. No.

Name of Dam

Name of River Purpose Constructed Dam

HeightReservoir Capacity

Installed Capacity

Command Area

(ft) (acre-ft) (MW) (acres)

1 Noghlou KabulHP,FC

1967 299

470,212 100 -

2 Gharghe Paghman

GWR, IR, FC 1957

118

8,107 - 4,940

3 Kharvar KharvarIR

1975 118

13,782 - 9,880

4 Amirghazi KabulIR

1919 75

1,621 - 4,940

5 Mahipar KabulHP

1966

-

162 66 -

6 Sarubi KabulHP

1957

-

5,270 22 - HP = HYDROPOWER, GWR = GROUNDWATER RECHARGE, IR = IRRIGATION, FC = FLOOD CONTROL

Summary of Existing Dams in Kabul River Basin(Source: Toos Ab Consulting Engineers Co. Report No. 430321-2257-1/1; Vol-1 Water Resources

Development and Integration)

Sr. No

Name of Dam

Name of River Purpose Year of

Establishment Dam Height

Reservoir Capacity

Installed Capacity

Command Area

(ft) (acre-ft) (MW) (acres)

7Jabal-al

seraj SalangHP

1920

-

- 2.92 -

8Chekvard

ak LugarHP, IR

1938

-

- 3.6 -

9Parvan Barrage Panjshir

HP, IR1966

30

- 2.4

61,256

10 Darunte KabulHP, IR

1964 72

33,239 Filled with

sediments 11.5

96,330

11Ghoorban

d -HP

1975

-

- 0.3 -

12 Sorkhab LugarFC, IR

- 82

7,296 - 9,880

Sum

539,690 209

187,226 HP = HYDROPOWER, GWR = GROUNDWATER RECHARGE, IR = IRRIGATION, FC = FLOOD ONTROL

Summary of Existing Dams in Kabul River Basin(Source: Toos Ab Consulting Engineers Co. Report No. 430321-2257-1/1; Vol-1 Water Resources

Development and Integration)

Name of the Project

Installed Capacity (MW)

Command Area

(acres)

Storage

(MAF)

Kama Irrigation Project 45 29,640 0.445

Shardeh-Ghorband Irrigation-cum-Micro Hydroelectric Power Scheme 0.6 0.28

Nangarhar Development Project - 0.28

Gambiri Irrigation and Power Project 10 19,760

Gulbahar Storage for Irrigation & Power (Panjshir River) 120 148,200

Shah-wa-Aroos Storage for Irrigation & Power 1.5 7,410

Shahtoot Storage for Irrigation & Power 29,640

Gatt Reservoir - -

Summary of Proposes Water Resources Projects in Kabul River Basin(Source: Agricultural and Rural Development Sector Strategy 2007-08 to 2012-13)

WATER USES IN PAKISTAN• Pakistan has an integrated irrigation system

• According to Indus Waters Treaty, all the flows of the three Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) are allocated to India

• Replacement works including link canals and storages were constructed to transfer waters of the Western Rivers to the areas of that were previously irrigated by the Eastern Rivers

WATER USES IN PAKISTAN

• Waters of the Kabul River coming to Pakistan are presently being utilized in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan

• Irrigated Area in IBIS - Pakistan = 31 million acres

• Current Irrigated Area in Kabul Basin - Afghanistan = 0.45 million acres

WATER USES IN PAKISTAN

Description Historic Withdrawals

As per 1991 Water Accord

(MAF) (MAF)IBIS – Kharif 68 72

IBIS – Rabi 38 38

Annual – Total 106 110

Groundwater (Annual)

42 42

Grand Total 148 152

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

10-Day

Flow

(cus

ecs)

River Flows at Rim Stations (1991-2001)

Ávergae Canal DiversionsInflow = 137 MAF

Diversion = 106 MAF

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

10-Day

Flow

(cus

ec)

River Flows at Rim Stations (2000-01)

Canal Diversions (2000-01)Inflow = 93 MAF

Diversion = 90 MAF

INDUS BASIN INFLOWS

• 1976-2000 150 MAF

• 1976-2008 144 MAF

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• In Kabul basin outflows from Pakistan are

about 8.0 MAF while Inflows are estimated

as 17.5 MAF; Pakistan is getting more

than double the amount of water which

flows from Pakistan to Afghanistan

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• The current water uses in Afghanistan are

1.8 MAF while the future uses are

estimated as 3.6 MAF; the additional water

use is estimated as 1.8 MAF

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• Agriculture in Afghanistan has been heavily dependant on springs, karezes and rehats. At present the groundwater use is minimum as the karezes need maintenance. It is estimated that present groundwater use is 0.2 MAF which would increase to about 0.5 MAF with investments in rehabilitation of irrigation system

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• Incremental surface water use for future

condition is estimated as 1.5 MAF.

• Afghanistan is presently using less than

10% of water of Kabul River Basin while

the future use would be within 20%.

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• Pakistan is using more than 90% of the water of Kabul River Basin which may reduce to 80% in future.

• IBIS-Pakistan’s total present water use is estimated as 148 MAF;

(106 MAF surface water + 42 MAF GW)

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• Surface water inflow at rim station is estimated as 144 MAF

• Pakistan faces water shortages in Rabi season and at the start of Kharif season. Thus, additional diversion by Afghanistan in Kabul basin would negatively affect Pakistan during the Rabi and early Kharif

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• The magnitude of impact on inflows is

1 – 1.5%

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• The impact on canal diversions will be less or negligible in the years in which escapages to sea are higher than the required. However, in the years in which escapages to sea are less than the required, the impact will be either on canal diversion or environment

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• Detailed studies on cropping patterns and

resulting demand pattern and system

operation (combined Afghanistan+Pakistan) are

required for determining the exact magnitude

of impact and its time of occurrence

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• Afghanistan intends to build storages to bring additional area under cultivation. The storage operation (filling and release) can be done in a manner so that harm to Pakistan’s agriculture is minimized e.g. if filling of storage is done in July-September period, the negative impact on Kharif sowing in Pakistan may be obviated

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• Pakistan can mitigate the impact by

building new storages so that extra water

flowing to sea is stored and utilized

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

• Improving irrigation system efficiencies may also help

• Research and use of improved seed varieties and irrigation practices that require less water and are drought resistant

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• In view of the relatively low uses in

Afghanistan (current + future) as

compared to Pakistan, it would not be

possible to ask Afghanistan not to develop

its water use in Kabul basin

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• The sharing of water use should be according to the rule of equitable utilization which requires that watercourse nations shall participate in the use, development, and protection of an international watercourse in an equitable and reasonable manner with a view to attaining optimal and sustainable utilization and benefits consistent with adequate protection of the watercourse. [Article 5 of UN Convention on the Non-Navigational uses of International Watercourses;May 21, 1997]

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• Pakistan should point out that additional

water use in Afghanistan would negatively

affect agriculture in Pakistan, specifically

in drought years

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• Pakistan may emphasize that Afghanistan should inform Pakistan on its development plans. The proposal of Pakistan-Afghanistan joint commission for harmonious development of water resources would be a useful starting point

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• Afghanistan should carry out development

in an efficient manner (from the water-use

point of view) so that harm to Pakistan is

minimized.

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• Afghanistan may be asked to submit the master plans and feasibility studies of the projects for review by Pakistan for arriving at agreed figures of water uses with efficient water use methods. In case there are differences, these may be resolved by the experts of the two countries

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• In case of storage projects Afghanistan

should agree to build only that magnitude

of storage which is consistent with its

irrigation and power needs in the Kabul

basin

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• The storage filling period should be

outside Kharif sowing season in Pakistan

( March to May)

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• Afghanistan should rehabilitate its karezes

and rehats to bring these to fully functional

level so that surface flow diversions for

agriculture are minimised

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• There should be regular monitoring of the

facilities in Afghanistan and information of

monitoring supplied to Pakistan. Pakistani

experts would visit the facilities in Afghanistan

for confirmation of the operation of the facilities

in the agreed manner

How to Take-up the Matter with Afghanistan?

• Pakistan should highlight that it has also

right to develop hydropower and irrigation

facilities in the Chitral/Kunar basin in its

territory but it will be done in a manner that

uses in Afghanistan on the same river

(Kunar River) are not adversely affected

THANK YOU