Pakistan, May 2 -- Rivers are not man-made waterways but naturally developed water resources. There are 148 rivers in the world out of which 30 traverse through three countries, 9 through four countries and 13 through five or more. These trans-boundary water resources are 60% of the world's fresh water flows and 153 countries have territory within at least one of the 286 trans-boundary Rivers and lake basins. Many countries sharing these waters have operational arrangements covering 90% or more of their shared rivers and lakes. These arrangements are dictated by unchangeable geographical realities and common heritage in regards to these waters.

A number of International laws also provide wealth of precedents on water use rights and oblig...