Besides the dilemma between jurisdictional and basin-related water resources management, another dimension stems from the fact that economic zones do not necessarily follow either of them. It the basins, next to the deltas; there are exceptionally densely populated areas that belong to the basins economically but not physically (see Fig. 2). Such areas include the Karachi area in Pakistan (next to Indus Basin), the Kolkata Area in India (GBM), the Chittagong area in Bangladesh (GBM), portions of the yangon area in Myanmar (Irrawaddy and Saween), the Ho Chi Minh area in Vietnam (Mekong), Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Macao, etc. in China (Pearl River) as well as much of the Shanghai area in China (Yangtze). Although not strictly within the basin, they dominantly depend on their neighbouring giant rivers. This dimension should be considered in future analyses. Furthermore, economic corridors boosted by highways and other communication infrastructure are becoming increasingly important though out the study region. Their development largely neglects the river basin boundaries or jurisdictional borders.