NipCA Project Public Lecture Series:
The Future of Central Eurasia and Japan
Vol.18 "Water and Environmental Issues: The Case of Pakistan"
Dr. Takafumi Kondo, Ph.D., Professor, Tokyo University of Social Welfare, Japan

October 2021

NipCA Project Public Lecture Series:
The Future of Central Eurasia and Japan
Vol.18 "Water and Environmental Issues: The Case of Pakistan"
Dr. Takafumi Kondo, Ph.D., Professor, Tokyo University of Social Welfare, Japan

On the Publication of the Proceedings of the Public Lecture Series“The Future of Central Eurasia and Japan”
Toshinobu USUYAMA

Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Director of the NipCA Project, Director of the Center for Education of Global Communication

In January 2019, the University of Tsukuba launched the Nippon Foundation Central Asia-Japan Human Resource
Development Project (NipCA), utilizing the results and know-how of the university’s Global Education Program forDeveloping Multilingual Human Resources in Japan, NIS and Baltic Countries (Ge-NIS) (2014-2019) under the InterUniversity Exchange Project (Russia) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology - Japan.
The NipCA project is committed to fostering human resources who can play an active role in the development of theirsocieties through various activities including dispatch and acceptance programs. “The Future of Central Eurasia and Japan”
public lecture series is one such activity designed to promote a deeper understanding of the SDGs and efforts contributing to
the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. During the first year of the NipCA project, a total of 10 lectures in this series were held.
However, due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, we switched to online lectures via Zoom and wereable to organize a total of 13 lectures at that time. Having 60 to 80 participants on average for each of these events, we received
many positive comments about the excellent lectures along with requests from the audience to make a readable version of thecontent. Thus, we decided to publish the lecture booklets as a part of the social contribution activities of the NipCA project.
This booklet includes the English translation of the proceedings of the lecture held in Japanese entitled Water andEnvironmental Issues: The Case of Pakistan, which was the 18th event in the “Future of Central Eurasia and Japan” public
lecture series. We would like to express our deep appreciation to our invited speaker, Dr. Takafumi KONDO, Professor of
the Center for International Student Education at Tokyo University of Social Welfare. Dr. KONDO, an expert on Pakistan,
spoke on the theme of water and environmental issues, one of the country’s biggest social problems and one of the important
targets for sustainable development. As can be seen from the fact that SDG-6 aims to “ensure availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all,” water is a critical global issue for many countries, not just Pakistan. There aremany issues related to water problems. For example, most bed sheets used in Japan are manufactured from Pakistani cotton,
and huge amounts of water are used in the process. Because the products made in Pakistan are exported to developed countries,
the country is forced to suffer from severe water shortages. Listening to Dr. KONDO’s lecture, I felt that it is important not toturn our eyes away from these social structural contradictions, but to continue to search for solutions and not to lose the will to
improve, even if it takes time. I was also able to recognize once again that international cooperation projects have the potential
to improve the social contradictions and discrimination found not only in developing countries but in many other countries
and regions as well. We hope that this booklet will encourage readers to think more deeply about the complex problems ofdeveloping countries and possible solutions.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Yuji MORI, Executive Director of the Nippon Foundation,
Mr. Takashi ARIKAWA, Manager of the International Operations Department, Ms. Masako NUMATA of the International
Operations Department, and Ms. Kyoko VRBOSKI, Chairperson of the Japan Central Asia Friendship Association (JACAFA),
for their continuous and warm support of the NipCA project at the University of Tsukuba behind the scenes.

NipCA Project Public Lecture Series: The Future of Central Eurasia and Japan

Prof. Yamamoto: Now, it is time to start. Ladies andinternational students from Central Eurasia with an opportunity

gentlemen, thank you for your patience. I am pleased to

to gain a deeper understanding of Japan’s domestic situation,

announce the start of the 18th Public Lecture Series on “Thevarious issues that Central Eurasian societies face today, andFuture of Central Eurasia and Japan,” organized by theefforts related to the achievement of SDGs in the region.

University of Tsukuba.

For this 18th lecture in our series of lectures, we haveThank you very much for taking time out of your busy

invited Dr. Takafumi Kondo, a prominent scholar in the field ofschedules to join us today. My name is Yukiko Yamamoto,international cooperation and South Asian Studies. Professor

I am an Associate Professor at the School of Humanities

Kondo is an expert on Pakistan’s modern and contemporary

and Social Sciences at the University of Tsukuba, and I will

history and a Professor at the Education Center for Internationalmoderate this lecture today. Also, I am a faculty member inStudents, Tokyo University of Social Welfare. Professor Kondo

charge of the Nippon Foundation Central Asia-Japan Human

stayed in Pakistan for four years from 2000 to 2004 and has

Resource Development (NipCA) Project. I am looking forward

visited the country periodically since then. He will deliver a

to working with you.

lecture on the broad topic of water and environmental issues

We would like to ask all attendees to turn off theirusing Pakistan as a case study. It is my pleasure to listen to his

microphones and cameras during the lecture. After the lecture,

talk to learn about global water and environmental issues fromthere will be a question-and-answer session, so please wait

both global and local perspectives.

until the end of the lecture to speak. Feel free to post yourDr. Takafumi Kondo received his master’s degree in educationcomments and questions in the chat box. Please note that thisand culture from the Graduate School of International

lecture will be recorded and distributed later on request.

Cooperation Studies at Hiroshima University. In 2000, he

Our first speaker, Professor Toshinobu Usuyama of thereceived an offer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to

University of Tsukuba, who is in charge of the NipCA Project,

work as a dispatched officer at the Consulate General ofwould like to briefly introduce the purpose of this lecture.

Japan in Karachi, Pakistan. Later, Dr. Kondo was appointed

Professor Usuyama, please begin.

as an expert researcher in the consular officer’s economic unit.

Prof. Usuyama: Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you very

After becoming a researcher, he also analyzed the economy

much for taking time out of your busy schedules to join usof Pakistan and supported local Japanese companies operating

today. My name is Toshinobu Usuyama, and I am a Professor atin the country. During that time, Dr. Kondo also worked as an

the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Director

interpreter and made his contribution to secure water resourcesof the Center for Education of Global Communication at thein Pakistan where water is scarce.

University of Tsukuba. I am also the Project Administration

After returning from Pakistan, he earned a doctorate degree

Director of the Nippon Foundation Central Asia-Japan Humanat Hiroshima University. Later, Dr. Kondo taught at Kinki

Resource Development (NipCA) Project.

University and the Tokyo University of Social Welfare while

Today’s lecture is organized by the NipCA Project incontinuing his research on the contemporary history of Pakistan.

cooperation with different structures at the University of

His research focuses mainly on the relationship between the

Tsukuba, namely, the Global Commons, the Promotion

military regime, democracy, and the water problem related to

Office of the Super Global University Project, Social

today’s lecture.

Contribution Committee of the Center for Education of Global

Recently, Dr. Kondo has participated in the Asian

Communication, the Area Studies Innovation Program, theEnvironment Project launched by Shimane Prefectural

School of Humanities and Culture, and the School of Social

University. The book “Contemporary Asia and Environmental

and International Studies. Launched by the University ofIssues,” which will be discussed at this session, was publishedTsukuba, the NipCA Project works to foster human resources

as a result of this project. Today, Dr. Kondo will talk aboutthat can serve as bridges between Central Asia and Japan andPakistan’s environmental issues, which are introduced in detailplay an active role in developing societies in Central Eurasia.

in Chapter 10, “The Whole Picture of Pakistan’s Multilayered

We are holding a series of lectures entitled “The Future ofEnvironmental Issues.” Professor Kondo, we look forward toCentral Eurasia and Japan” to provide Japanese students andyour lecture.
02

Vol.18 “Water and Environmental Issues: The Case of Pakistan”

Figure１: Map of Pakistan.
Prof. Kondo: Hello, I am Takafumi Kondo, and I have been
introduced to you. I look forward to working with you today.
As I have just been introduced to you, I am a researcher ofthe contemporary history of Pakistan. As for my experiencein Pakistan, from 2000 to 2004, I worked for four years as adispatched researcher and expert researcher for the Consulate
General of Japan in Karachi, in the largest city of Pakistan.
Karachi is called Karāchi in the local language. After that, I
often visited Pakistan. As Professor Usuyama mentioned alittle bit when he introduced me, I have been studying Pakistan,and I wanted to have a chance to go there and stay for a certain
period to gain experience. I tried to get a chance to go there
and work for an extended time to gain experience, but I could
not find such an opportunity. So, I received a job offer from
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and for the first two years, I
Figure 1: Map of Pakistan.

worked as a dispatched worker for the Consulate General ofJapan in Karachi. At that time, I did miscellaneous work for theConsulate General, from interpreting to general office work.

As shown in Figure 1, a large river called the Indus RiverAt that time, one of the major tasks was the water shortage

runs through Pakistan from north to south for more than 1,000

in Pakistan, and water cuts occurred almost every day. In

kilometers. I have drawn only the main channel of the Indus

particular, the city I was staying in, Karachi, globally is theRiver. Also, it has several tributaries, and it is the only water

seventh most populous city. Still, in Karachi, a city with asource for Pakistan, which is suffering from water shortages.

large population, water was frequently cut off, and water was

I stayed in this town called Karachi. About 12 million people

essential for the Consulate General to carry out its duties.

live in Karachi, which is the largest city of Pakistan. However,

Water trucks are used to provide water. When the water supply

the capital city is Islamabad. Islamabad is a city with theis cut off in Japan due to an earthquake or other reasons, younominal status of the capital city, and it does not have a large

may have seen the Self-Defense Forces’ water trucks come andpopulation. The capital city is Islamabad, and the country’s

distribute water. In parallel with my research on contemporary

second-largest city is Lahore, an ancient city like Kyoto inhistory, I became interested in water resources or water-related

Japan. Today I would like to talk about my stay in Islamabad,political issues. I was able to publish several papers on water

Lahore, and Karachi.
Anyway, first of all, I would like to say that the Indusand politics.
I am not a specialist in environmental issues. However, IRiver runs through Pakistan from north to south. I would

have been researching South Asia, focusing on Pakistan, andlike to ask you all to keep that in mind. The country of

I would like to share some of the ecological problems in thisPakistan has severe environmental problems, and all theregion that have not been given much attention. Thank you

things called “environmental issues” are here. Soil pollution,very much for your cooperation.

water pollution, air pollution, deforestation, reduction of wild

Please see the map of Pakistan, Figure 1. The area surroundedanimals and plants, noise, and many other problems exist.

by the dotted line in the northern part of the country is an area

Recently, however, water pollution has become a significant

of dispute with India. India and Pakistan are still engaged in a

problem due to global warming and the spread of diseases, andterritorial dispute, and it has not yet been decided which side

air pollution has been recognized as the second most serious

the territory will belong to. Still, Pakistan has been in effective

problem. In addition, air pollution has been recognized as ancontrol of this area for more than 70 years, and its ties withalarming problem.
According to the UNESCO World Water Development

Pakistan have become very strong. In effect, it is regarded asReport, the water quality rank of the country is 80th out of 122

Pakistan’s territory.
03

NipCA Project Public Lecture Series: The Future of Central Eurasia and Japancountries, which is quite alarming. There is wastewater fromthrough the arid zone of the country, so large water barrages

factories (in the textile and leather industries, which are the key

have been set up in many places for agriculture. This is Sukkur,

industries). It is estimated that about 5,000 factories in Pakistan

which is a large barrage located quite far downstream of the

do not have sewage treatment facilities and are discharging

Indus River. In this way, water is taken from these weirs, andwastewater into rivers and lakes.

various fields are irrigated and watered.

The discharge of domestic wastewater into rivers is also a

As one of the world’s leading irrigated agricultural countries,

severe problem, and only about 36% of the population has

Pakistan’s main export is cotton-related products. When you

access to drinking water, which is considered safe. It is also

think of products made in Pakistan, what do you think of?

said that about 40% of the hospital beds are occupied by

Recently, rock salt has become quite famous, and when you

actual patients with diseases caused by water pollution. Of

go to various restaurants, for example, it is not uncommon tocourse, 40% of hospital beds account only for 40% of thefind Pakistani rock salt as a seasoning. Still, Pakistan’s leading

people who come to hospitals and are hospitalized. So, let’sexport item is also cotton-related products.

consider the fact that there are people who cannot even go to

For example, most of the bedsheets in hospitals in Japan are

the hospital. There is a possibility that a more significant part ofmade in Pakistan. In addition, there are many cotton products

the population may actually have some kind of disease related

imported from China and other countries, but they are madeto water pollution. It has been reported that 250,000 children

into clothes in China and then imported to Japan. Still, the yarn

die every year from diarrhea believed to be caused by waterand cloth used in cotton products are actually made in Pakistan.

pollution.

I’m sure that many of the clothes you are wearing are madeIt is also specified that the per-capita water availability has

initially from Pakistani cotton or yarn processed from it.

decreased by one-fifth between 1951, just after independence,

It is often said that cotton cultivation is waterintensive. In

and 2015. Also, there is an NGO called Water Aid, andPakistan, it is said that it takes about 13,000 liters of freshwateraccording to this organization, Pakistan is one of the ten

to grow one kilogram of cotton. In addition, other agriculturalcountries where urban residents do not have access to proper

products such as sugarcane, wheat, and corn are also produced

toilets. It is also frequently pointed out that illegal dumping ofin Pakistan, and these are also waterintensive products. So,

garbage into the riverbed and the impact on fisheries due tothese are the main agricultural products. It is said that the rate ofmarine pollution are some problems.

return of one cubic meter of water to GDP is 34 cents per cubic

I would like you to understand the current state of water

meter in Pakistan, compared to the world average of about

in Pakistan, and I would like to look at the background from

8.6 US dollars. It is difficult to substitute the cotton-centeredvarious angles.

structure, but please understand that the entire structure of

I mentioned earlier that the Indus River runs through the

Pakistan consumes a lot of water and the cost performance iscountry from north to south. Other than that, there is no otherquite poor.

major source of water. Pakistan is a country that has no major

Please see Figure 2, which is a very detailed diagram, I am

water sources other than the Indus River and its tributaries.

sorry. This is a conceptual diagram of the Indus River system.

Most of the area belongs to the arid zone with very little

The Indus River flows like this and finally empties into theprecipitation. In August, which is the month with the highest

Arabian Sea, but it has several tributaries, and, in particular,level of precipitation during the year in Pakistan, there are only

five tributaries, the Jhelum River, the Chenab River, the Ravi

about 40 millimeters of rainfall per month. In Japan, September

River, the Beas River, and the Sutlej River, are very large

is the month with the highest level of precipitation during thetributaries. In particular, the Jhelum River, the Chenab River,year, reaching 210 millimeters. So, you can imagine how low

the Ravi River, the Beas River, and the Sutlej River are fivethe rainfall is in Pakistan. The source of water for the Indus

very large tributaries that join together and eventually flow into

River is the Himalayas. In fact, there are other large mountainthe Arabian Sea as the Indus River.

ranges such as the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush, and water

When we refer to the Indus River in a broad sense, we often

comes from these places as well. Glaciers and perennial snows

include these five tributaries, and we will use this term in aare the source of water for the Indus River. The Indus River runs

broad sense as well.
04Vol.18 “Water and Environmental Issues: The Case of Pakistan”

Figure２: Indus River System and major water facilities.

deteriorated, the Indian side would shut off the water in front ofTarbela dam

In d u s R i v e r（ Wa te r R i gh ts to P a ki sta n ）●Indus River

Mangla dam●

the border to prevent water from flowing to the Pakistani side

Main Irrigation CanalJ h e l u m Ri v e r （ Wa te r Ri gh ts to P a ki sta n ）or prevent sufficient water from reaching the Pakistani side.

Kashmir（ Disputed Area）
C h e n a b Ri v e r（ Wa te r Ri gh ts to P a ki sta n ）■Madhopur
Headworks――――

Link Canal

The World Bank intervened, and in 1960, a treaty called the

R a v i R i v e r（ Wa te r R i gh ts to In d i a ）Panjnad River▼Guddu Barrage▼Sukkur Barrage▼Kotri barrage
Intrusion of the sea water

Arabian Sea

Indus River Water Agreement was signed.

Be a s R i v e r （ Wa te r R i g h ts to In d i a )Sutlej River

PAKISTAN■
FerozpurHaedworks
IndiaPakistan
BorderThe Indus River and its five tributaries are shown on the

S u tl e j R i v e r（ Wa te r R i gh ts to In d i a ）INDIAmap. In Figure 2, the Indus River, the Jhelum River, and the
Chenab River, shown in red letters, were granted water rights

Figure 2: Indus River System and major water facilities

to Pakistan. The Ravi River, the Beas River, and the Sutlej
As I have said many times before, the Indus River is theRiver, shown in black letters, were given water rights to India.

basis of Pakistan’s economy, and it is really the only source

If you look at a world map, the three rivers on the west side areof water for Pakistan. Before, Pakistan was part of a British

Pakistan’s water rights, and the three rivers on the east side arecolony in British India, along with India and Bangladesh. In

India’s water rights.

1947, this colony was divided into two countries, India andAs compensation for this treaty, many connecting waterways

Pakistan, and became independent. Later again, in 1971,

were constructed from the three rivers written in red to prevent

Pakistan was divided into the present-day countries of Pakistan

the rivers written in black from drying up.

and Bangladesh, and the current South Asian state system of

The Indus River Water Agreement of 1960 brought about

Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh was formed from the westerna settlement. However, this time, a water rights dispute arosepart of the map.

between people living in the upper and lower reaches of the

The independence movement in India by Gandhi is well

Indus River in Pakistan. This time, there was a water-rights

known to people. Still, the British wanted to continue colonial

dispute between the people living in Pakistan’s upstream andrule and were reluctant to transfer power to the local people.

downstream areas. The decision was made on how to divide theAfter World War II, the British were suddenly forced towater in the Indus River system between India and Pakistan,

withdraw, and British India was divided into India and Pakistan.

but this time, as shown in Figure 1, the mainstream of the Indus

The British colonial bureaucrats finally drew the border. They

River flows from north to south. If the people in the upstream

withdrew, but because they did it in a hurry in a very short time,area use a lot of water, the water will not reach the downstream

the border was drawn without considering the local people’sarea, which is a simple problem.

actual living conditions.

The issue of salt damage is also an essential part of the water

For example, there are some things, but I would like to tell

problem in Pakistan. When you think of salt damage, what

you that in Figure 2, you can see a place called the Madhopur

do you think of? In Japan, the strongest image of salt damage

Water Transfer Outlet or the Firozpur Pull Intake. This is whereis damage to the roofs of houses near the sea or to factory

the irrigation canal comes out to take water and irrigate theequipment in places where the sea breeze blows. As you may

nearby fields. However, the Madhopur and Firozpur intakes

know, in fact, many irrigation canals for irrigation have been

are located further into India than the Indo-Pak border. The

constructed in Pakistan like a network since the British era.

people who used water from these intakes were the people of

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an irrigation channel,

Pakistan, but the places where the water was taken ended up in

not a river. When water is flowing in an irrigation channel, of

Indian territory because of the way the border was drawn. In

course, some of it will percolate underground. This in itself

particular, the Firozpur intake is less than 500 meters from theis a natural phenomenon, but when an irrigation channel is

Indo-Pak border. It is only 500 meters away from the Indian

damaged due to inadequate maintenance, more water thanside.

usual seeps into the ground from the bottom of the channel,

The relationship between India and Pakistan has notcalled leakage and water seeps into the around the canal. But

improved for 70 years, and even now, tensions continue, withPakistan belongs to an arid zone, an area with extremely hot

occasional military clashes occurring on the border. As a result

weather and intense sunlight. The intense sunlight causes theof these tensions, when relations between India and Pakistan

leaked water to be absorbed and evaporate. When the water05

NipCA Project Public Lecture Series: The Future of Central Eurasia and Japan

Fugure3:Water leakage from channel.

reservoirs were built, and the water dispute with India was
Evaporation（Salt remains in the ground.）settled1960,
watertheproblems
still remain in many places.
Photo１: Ain
polluted
river butin Islamabad,
capital of Pakistan.

Leakage from channel

Figure 3: Water leakage from a channel

evaporates, of course, it is only the water that becomes vapor.
Because the water is freshwater, it is not very salty, but when thewater is sucked up and turned into steam, only the salt content

Photo
1:Garbage
A polluted
in Islamabad,the capitalof Pakistan
Photo２:
dump inriver
Abbottabad,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Province.

remains on the ground’s surface, and it crystallizes rapidly. As
a result, the land around the irrigation canal becomes very salty
and unsuitable for agriculture. So, we have a problem like that.
To prevent this problem, it is essential to take good care ofirrigation canals, but in reality, what can be done with land
where salt has been deposited is to pump up groundwater ordraw water from rivers to wash away the salt on the surface.
However, to do this, a large amount of water is needed. Also,
if the water is not drained properly, the salt in the water used
to wash away the salt will remain on the surface, interfering

Photo 2: Garbage dump in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Provincewith agriculture. This is salt damage in Pakistan, and it is still Photo3: Overflowing sewage in the central area of Lahore, the second largest city in Pakistan.
a severe problem.
Then there is also a reverse intrusion of seawater from themouth of the river. This is a problem because too much wateris taken from the river. Thus, water from the Indus River
does not flow sufficiently into the Arabian Sea. This causes
the water from the sea to flow into the area where the river
typically flows. This can lead to the destruction of ecosystems,of course, but it can also lead to salt damage in other ways, asseawater enters land that is initially low in salt.
In the case of Pakistan, the northern part of the country isvery steep, but most of the terrain is very gentle. For example,

Photo 3: Overflowing sewage in the central area of Lahore, thesecond largest city in Pakistan

in Pakistan, the elevation is about 200 meters, even at a
distance of 1,000 kilometers from the sea. This means that if
you go one kilometer, the elevation rises about 20 centimeters.

In addition to the water shortage, we cannot overlook the

It is a very gentle place. Because it is a very gentle place, therewater shortage caused by the deterioration of water quality.

is a problem of seawater penetrating a very long distance backPhoto 1 shows a river in the capital. This is F-7 in Islamabad,

into the sea.

where the presidential palace is located, and foreign dignitaries

Recently, there has also been the issue of water rights withoften visit. The government cannot cover up the water

Afghanistan. Mr. Tetsu Nakamura, who established an NGO

pollution. Photo 2 is a photograph of a garbage dump in the city

called the Peshawar Association and devoted himself toof Abbottabad in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, often

Afghanistan’s medical care, and as well as regeneration ofcalled KP Province, in northern Pakistan. So there is a publicarid lands, drew an irrigation channel from the Kabul River,garbage dump here. However, a tremendous amount of garbage

which is a tributary of the Indus River. In this way, dams andis dumped and the staff members put it on the collection06Vol.18 “Water and Environmental Issues: The Case of Pakistan”

vehicles, but there is garbage left over that cannot be collected.

many as 130 trademarks in the country, including the major

If it rains, it clogs the gutters or it is washed away into the river.

ones. Every year, about 100 of these trademarks are judged

And it often happens that sewage is clogged by garbage.

by the government to be ineligible for quality. However, thePhoto 3 shows a scene in the center of the second city,

reality is that even if they are deemed ineligible for quality,

the ancient city of Lahore, when the sewage pipes burst andthey are still sold. Drinking water manufacturers actually give

sewage overflowed into the streets. In this way, a lot of garbage

a lot of money to NGOs, and the WWF is one of them. Theseflows into the river through the sewage. There is this kind ofNGOs are actively involved in protecting domestic flora andproblem as a cause of water pollution. Of course, there is an

fauna, such as sea turtle conservation and mangrove forest

inadequate treatment function of industrial wastewater. Thenprotection. In that sense, these drinking water manufacturers

there is the lack of tax revenue. It is necessary to invest tax

are giving back to society. Still, the rapid spread of mineralmoney to maintain sewage pipes and other facilities, but thewater has caused the government to neglect the maintenance offunds cannot be spent because of the lack of tax revenue. Thiswater supply and sewage systems.

is partly because people are unable to pay taxes due to hardship

The same thing has been pointed out before in the neighboringin their lives and partly because of distrust in politics. In short,country of India. It may be said that this is just a result, but I

people share the view that they cannot pay taxes to politicians,

would like everyone to understand the dilemma that the spreadso the treatment function for industrial wastewater remainsof mineral water is actually hindering the spread of clean water

inadequate.

and sewage systems, which are indeed essential for people’s

In particular, there is the illegal dumping of waste in the

lives. I would like to look at this water problem from a different

riverbed area. Some people are called “pickers,” and theyangle and talk about ocean pollution.

collect glass, vinyl, and other recyclable materials from

About 50 kilometers from the largest city, Karachi, there is

the piles of garbage thrown away and they take them to thethe Gadani Shipbreaking Yard. It is a factory that dismantles

recycling factories. They are in the informal sector of thelarge ships and tankers that are no longer used around theeconomy.

world. It is said that there are about 6,000 workers in total,

For example, have you ever eaten Indian or Pakistani

but most of them are unskilled workers engaged in dangerous

food? There are curry dishes such as mutton curry or chicken

work. The dismantling of ships generates iron scrap consumed

curry, and some of them contain meat with bones. So, thesedomestically, but it is not just a scrap iron used to make iron

dustbins were set up by the city. Still, they cannot dispose of

scrap. When a large tanker, for instance, an oil tanker, isthe waste, and there is a group of pickers organizing the waste,

dismantled, there is a lot of leftover oil in the place where theand they are trying to get the government not to remove theoil is stored. So when they are dismantled, there is a lot of oil

waste entirely because they will lose their jobs. And without

left in the tanker. This oil is then taken out and sold again. This

these people, Pakistan can no longer handle all the garbage,

residual oil is of poor quality, so, of course, it cannot be usedespecially in the urban areas. Even with these people, we are in

as fuel for power. However, it is actually used in many bricka situation where we cannot dispose of all the garbage.

manufacturing plants in Pakistan.

Water shortage due to water pollution has been progressing

Especially in Punjab and the provinces, there are many bricklike this. Demand for mineral water is increasing due to the

manufacturing factories. Charcoal is used to burn the bricks,

lack of trust in tap water. In Pakistan, you can’t travel without

but the residual oil from the dismantling of ships is also used,mineral water. The mineral water industry is attracting attention

as well as the waste tires from cars, which causes severe air

as an accessible business, mainly because it is possible to open

pollution.

a small factory by purchasing a reverse osmosis water purifier

Gadani is a place without adequate facilities, so people arefor about 600,000 yen. Political parties are also recommending

working in an area without a roof. All kinds of waste products

this kind of business. The number of mineral water brands has

are thrown out to sea. This causes ocean pollution, whichsuddenly increased, of course the multinational companies

naturally affects the fishing industry, but it is interesting tosuch as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Nestle, which I’m sure you arelook at the people working in the brick manufacturing plant

all familiar with, have bases in Pakistan, There are now as

I mentioned earlier. In Pakistan, 97% of the population is07

NipCA Project Public Lecture Series: The Future of Central Eurasia and Japan

Muslim, but about 70% of the workers in the brick factories aredeals. I should also mention that the Pakistani military is

Christians who converted from the so-called outcaste in India.

indirectly involved in environmental problems. It is called

These people are employed in the brick factories, but they are

Milbus, which means economic activities under the influenceoften unfairly given advance debts, called pēsh gī in the localof the armed forces, and, in this way, the military is using waterlanguage. In other words, they are told to pay money to theirunfairly. But I think we should not forget that Pakistan has aemployers or intermediaries because they are allowed to work.

30-year history of military rule as a background for the military

In this way, they take money from the workers in advance.

to engage in such commercial activities. We are running low onThis is related to the problem of the protection of sociallytime, so I will conclude with a summary. Here is a summary ofdisadvantaged minorities and the absence of regulations

what
we
have
talked about so far. Please see Figure 4.
Figure4:
Summary
flowchart

concerning unfair labor, such as forcing people to work under

Globalization of world economyAirpollutionprior obligation. The people who run these brick factories are“Effective useof waste”

Decrease of rareendangered species

Muslims by religion, but they are not part of the privileged

MarinePollution
River pollution

classes.

Water
scarcity

In Pakistan, There are many people known as theSolvable by dams?

lower middle class. NGOs have been providing various kinds

Localized rainfall& floodof assistance to the poor, but if you look at this country, you

Inadequate laws & regulations
Inadequate tax
collection capacity

Illegal dumping“Recycling” by the pickers

Water pollution

Distrust in politics

Pumping up of underground water by
the beverage industry manufacturers
Water-intensive
agricultural structure“Milbus” by the army

Global Warming

can see a structure in which the so-called lower middle class

The problem of minority
protection

Shipbreaking on
the seacoast
Inflow of domestic &industrial wastewaterComplex administrative
organization
The setbackof land reform

Military
interventions
in financial orpolitical
affairs

The India-Pakistan conflict& rivalry

British Colonial Rule

Figure 4: Summary flowchart

exploits the poor who are further down in the social system. I
don’t think this is the case only in Pakistan, but I have felt that

For example, water pollution, river pollution, the dumping ofunless we improve the lives of the poor and the lower middle

garbage, and the existence of pickers and recycling industries

class, we will not realize the protection of minority groups.

are all part of the environmental issues related to water. The

From a global perspective, South Asia’s share of therecycling itself is good, but the pickers do the waste disposal,

ship dismantling market is exceptionally high. The world’s

which leads to the residents dumping the waste everywhere,

three largest scrap yards are Alang in India, Chittagong in

as I mentioned. The people called pickers come from rural

Bangladesh, and Gadani in Pakistan. Gadani used to be theareas where they cannot inherit the land, so they come to theworld’s largest scrap yard, but its share has dropped to 22

cities. In the background, there are still large landowners of thevessels. Even so, unskilled laborers in these three South Asiansame scale as in Central and South America, and these people

countries dismantle about 75% of the world’s large vessels. I

monopolize the farmland, so I think there is a problem that thecannot shake off the feeling that this kind of severe labor is

middle classes cannot grow.

being imposed on South Asia, a region with a rapidly growing

Because of the system that allows the military to do businesspopulation in this globalized world.

on its own, the military has become influential. This is because

Pakistan has many ministries and agencies. Although there

Pakistan has a lot of border problems and conflicts withused to be the Ministry of Environment, it was replaced byIndia. We have to point to colonial rule as the cause of this.

the Ministry of Environmental Protection, a provincial

Also, the globalization of the world economy has led to theorganization rather than part of the central government. In

concentration of the ship dismantling industry in South Asia, as

other words, Pakistan no longer has a dedicated ministry to

I mentioned earlier, and the pumping up of groundwater by the

support environmental issues as a whole. There are many

beverage industries, and so on. After all, environmental issues

reasons for this, but this has given foreign countries, especiallyare often referred to as social issues. When environmental

aid agencies, the impression that Pakistan is not ready to takeissues occur, it is common to see people trying to solve themenvironmental issues seriously.

with technology. This is important, of course, but when I look

In Pakistan, the reluctance of political parties to address

at Pakistan, I am reminded that it is necessary to understandenvironmental issues is also a problem. So international NGOs

environmental problems in relation to social issues as a whole.

such as the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of

Unfortunately, Pakistan has been using Islam only to enhance

Nature) have been calling for dialogue rather than political

the sense of duty among its people and boost nationalism,08Vol.18 “Water and Environmental Issues: The Case of Pakistan”

and has not been focusing on the values of Islam, such as theenvironmental issues in Pakistan for more than 20 years now,concept of social welfare and mutual assistance. They have notsince about 2000. When I listened to your talk today, you said

paid attention to such values. I think it is necessary to review

that Pakistan is a society filled with all kinds of problems andthe various aspects of the political use of religion in this way.

environmental issues. After 20 years of observation, do you see

Recently, I have come to believe that it is necessary to

any improvement in Pakistan’s water and environmental issues

deepen cooperation with other countries and societies, suchover 5, 10, or 20 years? Are there any signs of improvement,

as Indonesia and Nepal, which face the same problems as

or are they worse than they were 20 years ago, or have they not

Pakistan, especially the issue of pickers.

improved at all? If there are signs of improvement, can you tellLast but not least, a doctor named Masazumi Harada worked

us what is affecting that improvement?

on the Minamata disease for many years. He said, “Pollution

Prof. Kondo: Thank you very much. Some aspects areexists where there is discrimination.” Rather than pollution

getting worse and, however, some aspects are improving, togiving rise to discrimination, he said that discrimination

answer your question. The aspect getting worse is that water

gives rise to pollution. When we think about pollution

is basically becoming scarce due to global warming, whichand environmental problems, we need to solve the various

is a global problem. In response to this, I don’t think that thediscrimination and social problems around us one by one. I

lifestyle of taking good care of water has yet taken root among

have come to believe that the path to solving environmental

people. I think that’s one of the major problems.

issues can be opened from such a place.

However, on the other hand, I think that people’s awarenessI have talked a lot, and that is all for now. Thank you very

and efforts to deal with water pollution are increasing. For

much for your kind attention.

example, the Pakistani society is about to ratify the Minamata

Prof. Yamamoto: Thank you very much, Dr. Kondo, for thisConvention on Mercury. In Pakistan, the literacy rate has

valuable talk. Water issues are also included in Goal 6 of the

not yet reached 60%, and many people cannot read, so it isSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which “ensure accessdifficult for ordinary people to file environmental lawsuits. In

to and sustainable managerial position of water and sanitation

anticipation of this, the courts have been trying to mobilize

for all people.” As for Pakistan, I could clearly see how theypeople in the legal profession in the form of public litigation

are facing the reality that they share the river’s water resources

to encourage the government to take environmental issues

with India, with whom they have a tense relationship, and that

seriously. I think that this is having a very positive impact on

the river exists further downstream. I was reminded once again

the problem of water pollution.

that there are a number of issues that lie behind water issues.

Prof. Usuyama: Thank you very much.
Prof. Yamamoto: Do any of the other audience members

We have about 10 to 15 minutes left, so I would like to takequestions and comments from the audience. If you have any

have any questions or comments?

questions about today’s talk, please feel free to turn on your

Graduate Student of Humanities and Social Sciences,microphone and, if possible, your camera. You can also leave

University of Tsukuba: May I have your attention, please?

your questions in the chatbox. We’ll read it for you. Do you

Prof. Yamamoto: Yes, go ahead, please.

have a question for us?

Sun: Thank you very much for your presentation. My nameProf. Usuyama: Excuse me, if I don’t answer right away,

is Sun Jing-Pu, a doctoral student in the Graduate Student of

may I ask a question?

Humanities and Social Sciences. At the end of your presentation,

Prof. Yamamoto: Yes, please, go ahead.

you summarized various perspectives and proposals regarding

Prof. Usuyama: Professor Kondo, you really provided

Pakistan’s water problems. Still, I think that in the end, it is up

information on water and environmental issues from theto the people of Pakistan to decide whether or not to take action.

perspective of the fundamental issues facing the country ofSo, for those of us who are not Pakistani, we are interested in,Pakistan, based on actual research. I think you offered a variety

for example, Japan’s case. What are the problems that Japanof perspectives, and I listened to the lecture with great interest.

faces because of the water problem in Pakistan? For example,

Thank you very much.

of course, we are talking about agricultural products used toProfessor Kondo, I think you have been looking at

make clothes and bedsheets. But beyond that, do you have any
09

NipCA Project Public Lecture Series: The Future of Central Eurasia and Japanideas about international relations with Japan, economic ties, or

help, we have not been able to dispose of all the waste, so weany other prospects or proposals from a foreigner’s standpoint?

think it is essential to incorporate these people into the waste

If you have any thoughts on what you think we non-Pakistanis

disposal process in a regular way.

should or should not do, whether as individuals, organizations,

Prof.Yamamoto: Thank you very much. Two more questions

or countries, I would like to hear from you. Thank you very

have been received. But so your time is running out mind. This

much.

is a question from Mr. Sasaki. “Thank you very much for yourProf. Kondo: Thank you very much. First of all, as a direct

presentation. Sorry for sending this question to the chat box.

problem, as you just mentioned, many of the things we use in our

It seems that Japan is also providing water-related assistancedaily lives, such as bedsheets, actually come from Pakistan. So,(related to Afghan refugees) through ODA and other programs.

there is a danger that supplies of such items may be disrupted.

But I think it is localized and not sufficient for ordinary

As I mentioned at the end, Japan has been cooperating withPakistanis. For example, what kind of support do you think isPakistan on various issues such as Minamata disease and theneeded now? I would like to know your opinion on this.”

Minamata disease research center in Kumamoto prefecture.

Prof. Kondo: You mentioned that this is a localized issue. In

Japan has been cooperating with Pakistan in multiple ways.

fact, Japan has provided water assistance through desalination

In addition, as I mentioned earlier, some minor social
contradictions

can

be

resolvedthroughprojects such as projects to desalinate seawater. You alsointernational

mentioned Afghanistan. However, as Tetsu Nakamura andcooperation. For example, I have talked about the advanced

others have said about Afghanistan, providing aid that is too

debt called pēsh gī. For instance, we talked about pēshgī, a kindadvanced and cannot be maintained will not last.

of advanced debt where you have to pay money before you

It is not an immediate solution, but if we don’t make a

are allowed to work. This kind of advanced debt is also quite

fundamental effort to solve the various problems that cause

common in our society. Based on my experience to date, I havewater pollution, we will end up with localized or ad hoc

often heard that technical interns and other people who come

responses.

to Japan are forced to pay what can be called advance debts.

Prof. Yamamoto: Thank you very much. There is one more

In Pakistan, this kind of thing is also linked to the preservationquestion, and I will read it now: “Thank you for your time.

of environmental problems. So I think that working steadily

On slide 20, it says, ‘Is a dam the solution for the problem?’ Ithrough international cooperation and other means to address

would be happy to hear your opinion on whether it is or not.”various contradictions and discrimination that may not seem toProf. Kondo: Would you like me to share the slides?

be environmental issues at first glance but are seen worldwide

Prof. Yamamoto: Yes, if you can get it out right away, please

will also support the resolution of Pakistan’s environmental

do.

problems. I believe that this will support the solution toProf. Kondo: I see. Then, please wait a minute. This is the

Pakistan’s environmental problems.

presentation. I think it’s probably here.

Prof.Yamamoto: Thank you very much. It seems that someProf. Yamamoto: Is it the last slide?

questions have come to the chat room, so I will read them on

Prof. Kondo: Please see Figure 4. It’s on the lower left.

your behalf. This is a question from Mr. Shimada. “Thank“The solution is to build a dam?” The bottom line is that there

you very much for your valuable talk. I have heard that in

is a shortage of water, but due to global warming, the water

Bangladesh, people throw garbage on the roadside or in rivers

in the rivers temporarily rises due to the melting of snow inmore casually than in Japan. I wonder if it is the same in

the Himalayas, and it cannot be fully processed. In the end,

Pakistan.”it becomes a flood. On the other hand, there is a shortage ofProf.Kondo: Yes. That is really true, and I think that this iswater, as I have already told you.

also true in India. Those people know that if they stop throwing

The question is whether the construction of dams will solveaway garbage, they will lose their workplaces, and such people

the problem or not, but I personally think that dams will notare called pickers. The people organizing the pickers know thatsolve the problem. The reason for this is that Pakistan has

as well, and they are actually asking the government not toconstructed dams in the past, and people have been relocateddispose of the garbage so thoroughly. However, even with their

because of it. However, the places where the people were10

Vol.18 “Water and Environmental Issues: The Case of Pakistan”

relocated were very barren, and the transportation wasof your busy schedule to speak to us today. On behalf of theinconvenient. Some people were treated like abandoned

audience, I would like to express our gratitude with a roundpeople because of the dam’s construction, and there are severalof applause.

examples of such cases.

This lecture will be available for free video streaming on

In addition, since there is basically a shortage of water, it isManaba, but only within the university. If you would like tonecessary to store water in rivers and reduce the amount of water

listen to this lecture again, or if you know someone who waswasted, to solve the problem of water pollution, and to reduce

not able to attend it, we hope you will use this opportunity.

the amount of water that is wasted. In addition, there is distrust

Details of the on-demand transmission will be announced onof the government’s policy of promoting dams. Still, there is

the Nippon Foundation Central Asia-Japan Human Resource

a lot of history behind this, so I am somewhat pessimistic in

Development website. We will also send an email to those who

my view that unless these problems are removed, it will beattended the lecture today, inviting them to participate in futurechallenging to solve this problem through dam construction.

lectures.

Prof. Yamamoto: Thank you very much, I regret to say that

This concludes today’s lecture by Dr. Takashi Kondo. We

we are running out of time, but I think it is time to wrap up thewill be closing the meeting room shortly, so please leave the

Q&A. Thank you very much, Dr. Kondo, for taking time out

room. Thank you all very much for joining us today.

This lecture was held on Friday, December 18, 2020, as the 18th public lecture "The Central Eurasia and Japan" organized by NipCA Project.

11

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NipCA Project Public Lecture Series:
The Future of Central Eurasia and Japan
Vol.18 “Water and Environmental Issues: The Case of Pakistan”

Dr. Takafumi Kondo, Ph.D., Professor, Tokyo University of Social Welfare, Japan

October 15, 2021
Chief Editor
Toshinobu Usuyama
Editorial Board	Yuji Kajiyama, Yukiko Yamamoto, Shoko Tanikoshi
Translated by
Leslie Tkach-Kawasaki, Mivegozel Gerdieva
Published by
University of Tsukuba, “The Nippon-Foundation Central Asia-Japan
Human Resource Development Project (NipCA Project),”1-1-1 Tennodai,
Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8571, Japan
Phone: +81-29-853-4251
E-mail: info@genis.jinsha.tsukuba.ac.jp
URL: https://centralasia.jinsha.tsukuba.ac.jp/
Printed by
INEXT Inc.

The Nippon Foundation Central Asia-Japan Human
Resource Development Project
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Phone ＋81-29-853-4251
Mail info@genis.jinsha.tsukuba.ac.jp
URL https://centralasia.jinsha.tsukuba.ac.jp/

The theme color of the 18th session of the Public Lecture
Series is based on the color of icon of "Goal 1. End poverty
in all its forms everywhere" among the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
©The Nippon Foundation Central Asia-Japan Human Resource Development Project (NipCA), University of TsukubaISBN 978-4-910114-32-3