By placing Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, India has unfortunately raised the spectre of water being used as a weapon.
Against this backdrop, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal’s remarks underscore an urgency that should have been the norm long ago: the swift and prioritised completion of hydro-related infrastructure projects notably the Diamer Bhasha Dam.
Pakistan’s dependence on the Indus River system is existential.
Approximately 80% of our agricultural sector relies on its waters and majority of our hydropower generation is derived from this system.
With India now considering substantial increases in water diversion from rivers allocated to Pakistan under the IWT, the situation demands an unflinching and coordinated national response.
Though International water security experts have rightly pointed out that such Indian diversion projects would take years to realise, yet we cannot afford complacency and that strategic posture must move from reactive to proactive.
While it may be technically impractical for India to halt water flow to Pakistan entirely, the political signalling and infrastructure intentions behind its recent moves cannot be ignored.
Ahsan Iqbal’s assurance that government will allocate funds on a priority basis to expedite hydro projects is indeed a welcome step.
It is regrettable, however, that projects such as the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams — conceived years ago — faced delays.
The newfound urgency must translate into concrete timelines, transparent oversight and an iron resolve.
Beyond geopolitical tensions, the more persistent and potent threat to Pakistan’s water security lies in climate change.
Unpredictable rainfall, retreating glaciers and extreme weather events pose dual threats of drought and flooding.
Our annual per capita water availability has plunged well below the global water scarcity threshold of 1,000 cubic meters, making us one of the most water-stressed countries in the world.
Without a robust water storage capacity, these challenges will only worsen.
To that end, the fast- tracking of existing mega dam projects is an important step.
Equally critical is the development of small to medium-sized dams across provinces to improve water retention.
Investment in modern water management practices such as efficient irrigation systems, water recycling and urban water conservation must be scaled up.
The urgency must evolve into a sustained national effort to secure Pakistan’s water future.
