On World Water Day, leadership highlights water scarcity, gender inequality and dam projects to secure future supplies
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari called on India to immediately restore the full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in accordance with international obligations.
In a message on World Water Day, he reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of what he described as India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty.
“This deliberate weaponisation of shared water resources is a matter of deep concern. India’s decision to place the treaty in abeyance, disrupt hydrological data-sharing, impede agreed mechanisms and undermine both the letter and spirit of a long-standing international agreement that has governed equitable sharing of the Indus river system for over six decades,” he said.
He added that such conduct threatened food and economic security, jeopardised the livelihoods of millions dependent on these waters and set a dangerous precedent for the management of transboundary resources under international law.
Referring to the theme of World Water Day, “Water and Gender”, the president said water insecurity was not experienced equally, with women and girls often bearing the heaviest burden.
“In many parts of Pakistan, households still rely on distant or unreliable water sources. Women and girls spend long hours each day collecting water, time that could otherwise be spent in school, at work or with their families,” he said.
He added that the absence of safe water also posed health risks and placed additional strain on household life, stressing that addressing the issue was a matter of fairness and opportunity.
Zardari said access to safe water and sanitation was a basic right recognised under the Constitution and must remain a national priority, requiring effective management of water resources, investment in water systems and greater participation of women in planning and decision-making.
Read: Pakistan warns against water weaponisation at UN, rejects India’s IWT stance
He also highlighted the role of communities, saying households could adopt rainwater harvesting and other simple measures to capture and store water, helping replenish underground aquifers and increase the water table.
“Water sustains our agriculture, our cities and our natural environment. As pressures on water resources grow due to population demands and climate variability, we must use water with greater care,” he said.
Similarly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government considered access to clean water a basic human right and was committed to ensuring women’s representation in water management and decision-making processes.
In a message on World Water Day, he said the day was being observed in Pakistan and around the world under the theme “Water and Gender Equality: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows”, highlighting that water conservation was not only a technical issue but also one of social justice and gender equality.
The prime minister said Pakistan was facing the challenge of water scarcity, noting that per capita water availability had declined from 5,260 cubic metres to less than 1,000 cubic metres since the country’s formation.
He added that unpredictable rainfall patterns and changes in glacier systems due to climate change had further exacerbated water scarcity risks.
PM Shehbaz said water scarcity affected the daily lives, livelihoods and social diversity of all segments of society, with women bearing a greater responsibility for managing water at the household level.
He noted that difficulties in water availability consumed valuable time, particularly in rural areas, affecting educational and economic activities.
The prime minister said the government was undertaking several reform measures under the National Water Policy to secure water resources for the future.
Read more: India’s water war
Under the Public Sector Development Programme, he said, the federal government was working on the construction of 18 small, medium and large dams to increase water storage.
These include major projects such as Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam, aimed at enhancing storage capacity and providing drinking water.
He added that the Naulong Dam and Nai Gaj Dam would improve agricultural irrigation, while the Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) would enhance water supply in Karachi.
The Chiniot Dam, he said, would provide water to Faisalabad, while the Kachhi Canal and Chashma Right Bank Canal would supply irrigation and drinking water to the plains of Kachhi and Dera Ismail Khan.
PM said these projects would play a significant role in increasing water availability, addressing the impacts of climate change and supporting sustainable economic development.
He added that, alongside dam construction, the government aimed to reduce water wastage by 33 per cent and increase water efficiency by 30 per cent by improving the canal system.
The prime minister said the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was installing a telemetry system across the country using modern technology to ensure transparency in the water system, with completion expected by 2027.
Also read: IWT violations: NA panel chief urges action
He said the system would enable timely monitoring of river flows and help resolve inter-provincial water distribution issues.
Pakistan was committed to protecting its national water rights at the global level and strongly condemned any form of water aggression, He said.
He said, “Today, on World Water Day, I appeal to all relevant institutions, development partners, civil society and every citizen to ensure the protection of water, considering it a precious gift. I reiterate my commitment at the government level that we will promote inclusive, sustainable and gender-sensitive water resources management”.
