Water Disbursal.

If we have learned anything from the unfortunate events of this year, it is that water, whether it be a shortage or an abundance, can be a source of disaster for Pakistan. Earlier in the year, disputes started between the provinces over allocation, with Sindh, perhaps the worst-off from the heatwave, expressing complaints that it was not receiving its due share. The subsequent monsoon floods proved all too well the dangers of climate change and how important it is to properly regulate water flows.

Fortunately, it appears that the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), the body responsible for regulating and monitoring the distribution of water sources among the Provinces, has attained an automated system to determine water shares among the provinces, water availability forecasting, systems losses, and gains. It is reported that IRSA will switch over from a manual system to an automated one from the coming Rabi season. The software is said to be more transparent in allowing the water regulator, PIDs, and Wapda to have their seasonal water planning as it follows more scientific trends of a repeatable process, and provides transparency and...