Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik said on Monday that Pakistan was taking the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty beyond the scope of a bilateral dispute.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, he said that Pakistan was presenting IWT internationally as a question of justice, basic human rights, and the protection of downstream nations’ access to water resources.
Malik said Pakistan’s stance on the matter had gained recognition at the United Nations as well as international arbitration platforms. He said that while climate change is often blamed for worsening floods and droughts, another major factor also determines whether farmers receive sufficient water or face severe shortages.
Malik said control over water flow had effectively been placed in the hands of Pakistan’s neighbouring country, whose leadership had openly declared that no water would be allowed to reach Pakistan. He highlighted that nearly half of Pakistan’s population relies directly or indirectly on agriculture for employment, while the sector contributes roughly one-quarter of the national economy.
“Our economy, food supply and the livelihoods of millions depend on this water,” he said, stressing that decisions affecting river flows should never be controlled by another state.
He argued that if upstream nations were allowed to halt or manipulate cross-border rivers at will, it could set a dangerous precedent for countries around the world that depend on shared water systems.
According to Malik, an upcoming international seminar on the treaty would focus not only on Pakistan’s dispute with India but on broader global principles of fairness and fundamental rights. He said the conference would raise an important question for the international community — whether populations living downstream across the world have a guaranteed right to access water.
The minister also recalled longstanding concerns regarding India’s run-of-the-river hydropower projects, warning that temporary water retention during crucial agricultural seasons could significantly damage crops in Pakistan.
He noted that previous international rulings had supported Pakistan’s argument that such water storage projects are bound by technical engineering limitations and cannot operate without restrictions.
Malik said recent developments had shown that while water flows could not be blocked permanently, even temporary disruptions were enough to revive concerns over agricultural losses caused by untimely water shortages.
He added that Pakistan must also strengthen its domestic water management system by increasing storage capacity and improving regulation of seasonal water flows.
“The role of dams is not simply to store water,” he said, adding that their primary function should be ensuring water reaches farmers exactly when crops need it.
Attaullah Tarar said the Indus Waters Treaty could not be suspended unilaterally because it remains a formally recognised agreement between both countries.
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