Water crisis needs more than politics, says Hamdard Shura

India’s unilateral actions on Indus Waters Treaty termed violation of international law

By IV Report

KARACHI: The Hamdard Shura—a monthly thinkers’ forum hosted under the aegis of Hamdard Foundation Pakistan (HFP)—convened on May 14 to deliberate on the country’s worsening water crisis, with retired General Moinuddin Haider, former governor of Sindh, chairing the session.

Held under the theme “Pakistan’s Water Crisis: Technical or Political?”, the session attracted a diverse panel of experts and thinkers, including HFP President Sadia Rashid, who jointly raised alarm over the national water emergency and the geopolitical tensions surrounding it.

Speakers at the forum criticised the Indian government’s announcement to unilaterally halt water flow to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a “grave violation of international law.” “India must understand that if this treaty is annulled, Pakistan will once again have a rightful claim over the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers,” they observed. The participants emphasised Pakistan’s status as the lower riparian and asserted that such a claim would be valid at international forums.

General Haider underscored the urgent need for public consensus to construct new dams, noting that for decades, around 35 million cusecs of water have flowed into the sea due to a lack of storage infrastructure.

Dr Rizwana Ansari criticised successive governments and bureaucracies for neglecting the crisis despite repeated warnings that water scarcity would severely impact Pakistan by 2025. She argued that opposition to dam construction is rooted in ignorance and ethnic politics. “A robust strategy is needed to curb water wastage,” she added, proposing mandatory rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in new housing developments.

Professor Dr Hakim Abdul Hannan highlighted global best practices like drip irrigation and urged the formulation of comprehensive national strategies for water management. “Even water-rich countries like the United States manage usage carefully,” he said.

Retired Colonel Mukhtar Ahmed Butt pointed out that Pakistan possesses significant potential to build reservoirs, lakes, and ponds. Drawing a parallel with the United Arab Emirates, he advocated for the installation of desalination plants to serve coastal populations.

Zafar Iqbal took a firm stance, stating that any form of “water aggression” from India would be met with a strong response. Dr Amjad Jafri added that while India may not currently have the technical capacity to block the Jhelum River, it remains capable of pursuing hostile strategies against Pakistan.

Justice (Retd) Zia Parvez, Rizwan Ahmed, and other participants also shared insights, echoing the need for urgent reforms and responsible policymaking to secure the country’s water future.

This report is based on a press release issued by Hamdard Foundation Pakistan.