On World Water Day, leaders highlight water scarcity, gender inequality and dam projects to ensure future supply
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari called on India to immediately restore full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in accordance with international obligations.
In a message on the occasion of World Water Day, he reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of what he described as India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty.
“This deliberate weaponization of shared water resources is a matter of deep concern. India’s decision to put the treaty on hold, disrupt the exchange of hydrological data, impede agreed mechanisms and undermine both the letter and spirit of a long-standing international agreement that has governed the equitable sharing of the Indus River system for more than six decades,” he said.
He added that such conduct threatened food and economic security, endangered the livelihoods of millions of people who depended on these waters, and set a dangerous precedent for the management of transboundary resources under international law.
Referring to the World Water Day theme, “Water and Gender”, the President said water insecurity is 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 they could otherwise spend at school, work or with their families,” she said.
He added that the lack of clean water also posed health risks and placed additional strain on family life, and emphasized that addressing the problem was a matter of justice and opportunity.
Zardari said access to safe drinking water and sanitation was a basic 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 weaponizing water 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 sustains 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 considered access to safe drinking water a basic human right and was 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 that the day was being celebrated 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 decreased from 5,260 cubic meters to less than 1,000 cubic meters since the country’s formation.
It added that unpredictable rainfall patterns and changes to glacial systems due to climate change had further exacerbated the risks of water shortages.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said water scarcity affected daily life, livelihoods and social diversity of all segments of society, and women had greater responsibility in water management 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 taking several reform measures under the National Water Policy to secure water resources for the future.
Read more: The water war in India
Under the Public Sector Development Programme, he said, the federal government is working on the construction of 18 small, medium and large dams to increase water storage.
These include major projects like Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam, aimed at improving 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 improve 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 Kachhi and Dera Ismail Khan plains.
The Prime Minister said these projects would play an important role in increasing water availability, addressing the impacts of climate change and supporting sustainable economic development.
He added that in addition to building 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 the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was installing a telemetry system across the country using modern technology to ensure transparency in the water system, and it is expected to be completed 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 water distribution issues between provinces.
Pakistan was committed to protecting its national water rights globally and strongly condemned any form of aggression on water, He said.
He said: “Today, on World Water Day, I call on all relevant institutions, development partners, civil society and all citizens 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 management of water resources.”
