پاکستان میں بین الصوبائی آبی تنازعات اور اُن کا حل سیرت النبی ﷺ کی روشنی ميں

Inter-Provincial Water Disputes in Pakistan and its Solution in the Light of al-Sīrah al-Nabaviyah

Abstract

The issue of inter-provincial water disputes in Pakistan has emerged as a critical challenge to federal cohesion, agricultural development, and equitable resource distribution. Despite the presence of constitutional provisions and agreements such as the Indus Waters Apportionment Accord of 1991, dissatisfaction among provinces persists due to perceived inequities in water allocation, lack of transparency in data sharing, and weak enforcement mechanisms. This paper undertakes an analytical study of these disputes within the framework of Pakistan’s constitutional structure, while simultaneously exploring the ethical and jurisprudential insights derived from the Sīrat-un-Nabi (peace be on him) the life and practice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Drawing upon prophetic principles such as justice (‘adl), mutual consultation (shūrā), and public welfare (maṣlaḥah ‘āmmah), the study offers a normative framework for conflict resolution and just resource management. Through a comparative analysis, the paper illustrates how the moral paradigms established in the Sīrah can complement constitutional mechanisms, fostering a more cooperative and morally anchored approach to inter-provincial resource governance. The study concludes by recommending an integrated model that harmonizes constitutional provisions with Islamic ethical guidance, aiming to transform water-sharing from a source of contention into an opportunity for federative solidarity and moral statecraft.