ISLAMABAD: Pakistan needs to shift from short-term disaster response to a comprehensive national water security strategy to effectively manage increasing flood risks and a deepening water crisis, according to a new research report launched at a seminar in Islamabad.
The report, Water, Climate and Diplomacy: Securing Pakistan’s Indus Basin Future, was unveiled by EMPAK Strategies and highlights the urgent need for long-term reforms to strengthen the country’s resilience against climate-related challenges.
It states that the recent increase in water flows in the Chenab River during the monsoon season has exposed persistent weaknesses in Pakistan’s water management framework.
According to the report, extreme rainfall, rising upstream river flows, inadequate water storage, ageing irrigation infrastructure, weak groundwater governance and insufficient flood preparedness have all contributed to the country’s growing vulnerability.
The report further warns that climate change, accelerated glacier melt, rapid population growth, deteriorating irrigation systems, uncontrolled groundwater extraction and mounting pressure on the Indus Basin have pushed Pakistan into an increasingly severe water security crisis.
To address these challenges, the study recommends five key policy measures. These include the effective implementation of the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, expansion of strategic water storage and flood protection infrastructure, stronger hydrological cooperation with China alongside technical engagement with Afghanistan, promotion of climate-smart agriculture and digital water accounting coupled with groundwater regulation, and greater mobilisation of international climate finance by placing water security at the centre of Pakistan’s climate, economic and national security agenda.
Indus Waters Treaty cannot be suspended or terminated unilaterally
Speaking at the seminar, Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Sheikh said the Indus Waters Treaty could not be suspended or terminated unilaterally. He described any attempt by India to do so as unlawful and contrary to international law.
The minister cautioned that prolonged disputes over shared water resources could have far-reaching consequences, affecting not only peace and stability in South Asia but also broader global economic and security interests.
EMPAK Strategies Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Younis said the recent rise in Chenab River flows underscored the need to treat water security as a national strategic priority rather than simply a seasonal flood management issue.
He stressed that Pakistan required an integrated approach combining effective governance, climate resilience, infrastructure development and regional cooperation to safeguard its long-term water resources and reduce future flood risks.
