On World Water Day, leaders highlight water scarcity, gender inequality and dam projects to secure future supplies
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari has called on India to immediately restore full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), in line with international obligations.
In a message to mark World Water Day, he reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of what he described as India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty.
“This deliberate militarization of shared water resources is a matter of deep concern. India’s decision to suspend the treaty, disrupt the sharing of hydrological data, hamper agreed mechanisms and undermine the letter and spirit of a long-standing international agreement that has governed the equitable sharing of the Indus river system for over six decades,” he said.
He added that such conduct threatens food and economic security, jeopardizes the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on these waters, and sets a dangerous precedent for transboundary resource management 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 every day searching for water, time they could otherwise spend at school, at work or with their families,” he said.
He added that the absence of clean water also posed health risks and put additional pressure on household lives, stressing that solving this problem was a matter of equity and opportunity.
Zardari said access to clean water and sanitation was a fundamental right recognized by the Constitution and must remain a national priority, requiring effective management of water resources, investments in water systems and greater participation of women in planning and decision-making.
Read: Pakistan warns against water militarization at UN, rejects India’s stance on IWT
He also highlighted the role of communities, saying households could adopt rainwater harvesting and other simple measures to capture and store water, helping to replenish underground aquifers and raise the water table.
“Water supports our agriculture, our cities and our natural environment. As pressures on water resources increase due to population demands and climate variability, we must use water more carefully,” he said.
Similarly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government considers access to clean water a fundamental human right and is committed to ensuring women’s representation in water management and decision-making processes.
In a message on the occasion of World Water Day, he said the day was celebrated in Pakistan and around the world under the theme ‘Water and Gender Equality: Where water flows, equality grows’, emphasizing that water conservation was not just a technical issue but also an issue of social justice and gender equality.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan was facing the challenge of water scarcity, pointing out that per capita water availability had declined from 5,260 cubic meters to less than 1,000 cubic meters since the inception of the country.
He added that unpredictable precipitation patterns and changes to glacial systems due to climate change had further exacerbated the risks of water scarcity.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said water scarcity was affecting daily life, livelihoods and social diversity of all segments of society, with women taking greater responsibility in water management at the household level.
He noted that challenges related to water availability were consuming valuable time, especially 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.
Learn more: India’s water war
Under the Public Sector Development Program, he explained, the federal government is working to construct 18 small, medium and large dams to increase water storage.
These include major projects such as Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam, aimed at improving storage capacity and providing potable water.
He added that the Naulong and Nai Gaj dams would improve agricultural irrigation, while the Greater Karachi Water Supply (K-IV) project would improve water supply in Karachi.
Chiniot Dam, he said, would provide water to Faisalabad, while Kachhi Canal and Chashma Canal on the right bank would provide irrigation water and drinking water to Kachhi and Dera Ismail Khan plains.
The Prime Minister said these projects would play an important role in increasing water availability, combating the impacts of climate change and supporting sustainable economic development.
He added that along with the construction of dams, the government aimed to reduce water wastage by 33 percent and increase water efficiency by 30 percent by improving the canal system.
The Prime Minister said that the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was installing a telemetry system across the country using modern technology to ensure transparency of the water system, which is expected to be completed by 2027.
Also read: IWT Violations: NA Panel Leader Calls for Action
He said the system would enable rapid monitoring of river flow and help resolve water distribution issues between provinces.
Pakistan is committed to protecting its national water rights globally and strongly condemned any form of water-related aggression, he said.
He said: “Today, on the occasion of World Water Day, I call on 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 to promote inclusive, sustainable and gender-sensitive water resources management.”
