Islamabad, Nov 27 (IANS): Engage with India to find a peaceful solution to trans-boundary water-sharing, said a leading Pakistani daily Wednesday.

An editorial in the Dawn said that water shortages can have severe political, economic and social ramifications.

"...This has led many - from farmers to opposition politicians to ministers to jihadi groups - to blame India, the upper riparian, for Pakistan's water crunch. It isn't without reason that some experts have warned of water wars in South Asia, one of the world's most water-stressed regions," it said.

The growing water crunch is often cited as the next biggest threat to Pakistan’s internal security, people and economy after terrorism.

The daily said that Pakistan is already classified as one of the most water-stressed countries because of climatic change, population growth and inefficient use of the resource.

"More worrying is the fact that water stress is fast developing into water scarcity."

"...The country’s population is predicted to double by 2050, meaning that the people will have access to just half the water in 2050 they have now even if they start using the available resource efficiently and climatic changes don’t reduce flows in the Indus river system," the Dawn added.

It noted that water scarcity can take an enormous toll on the economy and food security.

"And all this because successive governments have failed to invest in this sector. The situation can still be salvaged. But it’ll require efficient use of water, the development of more storage capacity, resolution of provincial water disputes as well as engagement with India to find a peaceful solution to trans-boundary water-sharing.

"Unless effective actions are taken now, the future appears grim."