HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE SINDH-PUNJAB WATER DISPUTE AND THE ANTI-DAM MOVEMENT IN SINDH: A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Abstract

The issue of environmental concerns and conflicts has been present
throughout human history, from ancient civilizations to the contemporary world.
The mainstream environmental movements initially focused on preserving
wilderness, wildlife, resource conservation, pollution reduction, and managing
population growth. However, these movements mainly gained support from
middle and upper-middle-class white communities and struggled to attract the
poor and minority communities, who felt that their central concerns were not
being addressed. This led to the emergence of the environmental justice
movement in various parts of the world, including Sindh, where there is a
movement to reclaim water rights on the Indus River. Since Pakistan's creation,
numerous water projects have been developed on the river Indus, mainly
benefiting the upper riparian Punjab. This paper aimed to describe the history of
the environmental justice movement, the history of Sindh-Punjab water dispute
which indicates environmental injustice on people of Sindh and anti-dam
movement in Sindh.
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