3.3.3. Region-Wise Net Virtual Water Import

In terms of regional distribution, Pakistan's negative blue net virtual water import (i.e., net blue virtual water export) has been destined mostly to Asian countries—mainly through rice export to Afghanistan, UAE and Iran- and African countries, also primarily via rice export to Kenya and Mozambique. Exports to both the Asian and African regions were responsible for annual blue net virtual water import of <sup>−</sup>3579 Mm3 and <sup>−</sup>2042 Mm3, respectively, during 1990–2016 (Figure 4a). The share of blue net virtual water import from Asian countries in the total blue net virtual water import decreased from 67% during 1990–2010 to 53% during 2009–2016. For African countries, on the other hand, the share of blue net virtual water imports increased from 27% during 1990–2008 to 42% during 2009–2016. This indicates a gradual shift of Pakistan's export away from destinations in Asia towards African countries. European countries accounted for relatively small but constant share (9%) in the annual blue net virtual water import. North American and South American countries have registered positive (although small) contributions towards Pakistan's blue net virtual water import.

**Figure 4.** Region-wise evolution of (**a**) blue and (**b**) green net virtual water import of Pakistan (1990–2016). Source: Authors' calculations based on data from Reference [39] (trade volumes) and sources mentioned in the Methods section (VWC).In the period 1990–2016, Pakistan's green net VWI related to agricultural commodities was dominated by Asian countries with 4824 Mm3/year (Figure 4b). About 67% share was due to palm oil imports from Malaysia and Indonesia. On the other hand, trade with countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE contributed small but negative shares to green net VWI. We can observe a noticeable shift in sources of green net virtual water imports over the years, with a continuous increase in the share of Asian countries and a gradual decrease in the percentage of North American countries (Figure 4b). Asian countries' share in Pakistan's green net virtual water import increased from 45% (2311 Mm3/year) during 1990–1997 to 73% (5882 Mm3/year) during 1998–2016 at the expense of North America's share, which dropped from 42% (2170 Mm3/year) during 1990–1997 to 8% (603 Mm3/year) during 1998–2016. Two factors caused the shift, that is, shrinking imports of wheat from North America and increasing imports of palm oil and cotton from Asia (a brief discussion of the water resources and their use in Pakistan and its major trade partners is presented in Table A1 of the Appendix A).
