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Pak Studies History IGCSEPDF 100
181 pagesrevision 46928
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Canal Water Dispute
The Canal Water Dispute emerged soon after the Partition of Punjab in 1947,
when the irrigation system that served both India and Pakistan was divided between
the two countries.
West Pakistan (now Pakistan) depended heavily on canal irrigation fed by
the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab Rivers, while the headworks
controlling water flow — particularly at Madhopur and Ferozepur — were
located in East Punjab (India).
This division placed Pakistan’s agriculture at a severe disadvantage, as
India could potentially control the water supply to millions of acres of
farmland in Pakistan.
In April 1948, India suspended water flow to some Pakistani canals,
creating a crisis for Pakistani farmers.
Pakistan sought to take the issue to the International Court of Justice,
but India refused, insisting it was a bilateral matter.
A temporary agreement was reached in May 1948, under which India
allowed water to flow to Pakistan in return for certain payments and
negotiations on a permanent solution.
➔ Initial Problems
i) Refugee Crisis
The Partition of India in 1947 led to one of the largest and most tragic mass
migrations in human history, causing a severe refugee and accommodation
crisis in both new nations — India and Pakistan.