Pakistan Faces $10 Billion Hit as India Expands Ranbir Canal, Drought Looms!

International News: After the Pahalgam terror attack, India has intensified diplomatic and strategic pressure on Pakistan. The biggest shock is from the decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty, which has stirred up Islamabad. India is now expanding the Ranbir Canal Project, which will lead to a direct attack on Pakistan's water supply. According to experts, this can cause a loss of about $ 10 billion to Pakistan - an economic shock that can completely collapse its extreme economy.

What is Ranbir Canal and why is Pakistan scared?

The Ranbir Canal Project of India, which takes water from the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, has been the irrigation scheme of the British period. But now India is going to increase its length from 60 km to 120 km. Pakistan's water affairs expert engineer Arshad H Abbasi says that the proposed detail of Ranbir Canal may cut the water supply to Pakistan from the Chenab River by up to 20%. This means that Pakistan will suffer more than 5 million acres of water (MAF) every year. Globally, the economic price of this water is estimated to be around $ 10 billion, which can have a profound impact on both Pakistan's agriculture and economy.

Water-compliant war of India: Why can Pakistan's waist break?

The Punjab province of Pakistan is dependent on agriculture and is dependent on the water from western rivers like Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. India is now working to strengthen its grip on these resources. The average flow of Chenab is 28,000 cusecs, and this flow will not reach Pakistan by the expansion of Ranbir Canal.

Is India violating the Indus Water Treaty?

India claims that it is using the Ranbir Canal while remaining within the scope of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, but Pakistan's concern is that the proposed expansion can be violated by the attachment C of the treaty, which allows India to allow limited agricultural use from Western rivers. According to Article VI of the Indus Water Treaty, it is mandatory for both India and Pakistan to share data related to river water flow regularly with each other. But India usually sends this data through fax or post, which raises questions on transparency and monitoring. Pakistan is allowed to inspect, but practically it has failed to reach and monitor these areas.

Pakistan will keep a gun on China's shoulder

Troubled by India's aggressive stance, Pakistan is now planning to surround India on international forums with its 'evergreen' partner China. But experts believe that the expansion of the Ranbir Canal is India's sovereign authority and is safe in international laws on the issue. India's Ranbir Canal Strategy has put Pakistan's water security in a serious threat. At a time when Pakistan's economy is struggling with debt and political instability, India's water-political attack can become the biggest setback for him.