Promoting the economy of scenes: case of river Ravi
The writer is a civil servant holding a PhD
In early November this year, two organisations from Pakistani and Indian Punjabs joined hands together to foster collaboration and create awareness about the issues and challenges faced by the five rivers of Punjab. Their special focus was the river Ravi facing worst environmental conditions mainly in terms of diminishing water flow and unbridled ecological degradation. The members of both organisations collected waters from the five rivers of Punjab and brought it to the shrine of Sufi saint Madhu Lal Hussain in Lahore. The water was later poured into the river Ravi. The event, per media reports, was named as ‘Separated Waters of Five Rivers Meet’. Dr Tarunjit Butalia, a professor at the Ohio State University, representing the Indian side, said the event will bring people of both Punjabs together. The separated waters of the five rivers of Punjab were primarily a result of the partition of India and Pakistan back in 1947. The conflict over the division of river waters continued till 1960 when the Indus Water Treaty was signed in which India was allowed the control of three Eastern rivers — Beas, Ravi and Sutluj — while Pakistan could control three Western rivers — Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.
The division of rivers water had severe negative impacts on the urban economies of cities in Pakistan. Pakistan is also one of the most adversely affected countries from the climate change, extreme weather conditions and external and internal conflicts. That means Pakistan is facing a three-dimensional menace of climate change, violent conflict and river-water mismanagement. In a recent article, Scandinavian researchers Kristina Petrova and Elisabeth Rosvold underline the interplay of such compound risks in Pakistan requiring coordinated government action.
Research also shows that rivers play a vital role in promoting the economy of scenes worldwide and that the role of rivers is fast shifting from production to consumption. Riverfronts have, therefore, become precious economic amenities in cities. In a 2022 article, Martha Fish and Terry Clark argue that the rivers were originally understood as purely utilitarian infrastructure. They highlight three basic analytical components that can truly transform locations into scenes and aggrandise economic growth: theatricality, legitimacy and authenticity.
Theatricality: Among all the rivers affected by the Indus Water Treaty, the case of the river Ravi is unique in the sense that it fed the Harrapa or Indus Valley Civilisation thousands of years ago. Such an exhibitionistic and archeological significance in itself is an urban theatricality that can attract international investors and tourists. Many economists have been arguing that neighbourly countries and regions need to focus on developing and building economic growth poles in cities so as to create economic ambiances and develop critical skills in the local population. In the context of Lahore, developing the location of the river Ravi into a glamorous regional theatrical scene is in the economic interest of both Pakistan and India. Over the past one century, furthermore, the rivers have acted as an urban nucleus for a wide range of amenities such as waterfronts, restaurants, bars, cafes, mosques, galleries and clubs. These amenities indeed transform locations into scenes and scenes have their own peculiar economy in terms of urban theatricality and socioeconomic synergy. Currently, water level is shrinking fast from river Ravi and has become extremely toxic because of sewage and industrial wastes inflow into the river. Former CEO of the Urban Unit Lahore Dr Nasir Javed argues that sewage water, after necessary treatment, could be used for plantation and growth of bamboo forest around river Ravi. Such a suggestion may add to the theatricality element of river Ravi. The situation demands a fresh appraisal of the economy of scenes in the context of ‘separated rivers of Pakistan and India’ and their potential for accelerating economic growth.
Legitimacy: The division of river-waters between Pakistan and India under the Indus Water Treaty is basically an anti-synergy, anti-growth and anti-climate agreement which has hampered the natural flow of river waters, restricted their natural and archeological theatricality and prevented people from transforming into thriving communities. The agreement, prima facie, is in conflict with the four “paradigm shifts”, declared in July 2023 by the COP28 President, concerning “the role of people and nature in climate action”. Despite a great historical and archaeological significance, river Ravi is a dead river now. It has lost its natural and legal legitimacy. The literature on urban development suggests that regional conflicts between countries should not hamper the natural flow of rivers. Any political assertions will ultimately transform scenes into mere locations as is the case with river Ravi. Pakistan and India both need to reconsider river Ravi as a natural economic amenity and an opportunity to foster regional economic growth. Based on rich historical and archeological significance, this amenity has the potential to create massive economic synergies and opportunities of higher return for the investors on both sides of the border. This is possible when river Ravi is fully charged with water and allowed to flow naturally right from the inflow origin and down to its outflow destination. Politico-economic legitimacy remains a crucial factor in this regard before promoting plans for creating economic synergies.
Authenticity: The case of riverfronts is not just applicable to river Ravi only as the same approach could be adopted for all major and minor rivers in Pakistan. The fundamental principle is the same that the riverfronts, being precious economic amenities, need to be naturally original and authentic. That means an authentic and true sociocultural and historical perspective having the potential to act as an economic amenity. Developing river Ravi right from its inception of flow to the conclusion is actually an authentic slogan and a rational narrative. The narrative is in line with the thematic Punjabi slogan raised by the two organisations which roughly translates as ‘no water for the Ravi — no life for the people’ (Jay Ravi Wich Pani Koi Nahi — Tay Saadi Kahani Koi Nahi).
The three principles are equally applicable in transforming other dead urban locations into scenes capable of kick-starting new vistas of economic growth in Pakistan. Furthermore, they are not just restricted to the development of river waterfronts, they may also help develop new non-waterfront scenes which could act as precious economic amenities and transform cities into entertainment machines.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2023.
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