President Zardari Calls on India to Restore Full Indus Waters Treaty on World Water Day

On World Water Day, President Asif Ali Zardari called on India to immediately resume full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), stressing that New Delhi must honour its international obligations.

In his message, the president reiterated Pakistan’s strong objection to India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty.

“This deliberate weaponisation of shared water resources is a matter of deep concern. India’s decision to place the Treaty in abeyance, disrupt hydrological data-sharing, impede agreed mechanisms, and undermine both the letter and spirit of a long-standing international agreement that has governed equitable sharing of the Indus river system for over six decades,” he continued.

Tensions over the treaty intensified after India put the IWT in abeyance following a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOK) in April 2025, which claimed 26 lives. India accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack without conducting any investigation, a claim that Islamabad strongly denies.

President Zardari warned that such actions threaten food and economic security, jeopardize millions of livelihoods dependent on water, and risk setting a dangerous precedent for managing transboundary resources under international law.

“World Water Day this year draws attention to the theme Water and Gender, reminding us that water insecurity is not experienced equally. Women and girls often carry the heaviest burden when safe water is not available close to home,” the president added, highlighting the unequal effects of water scarcity.

He noted the everyday struggles faced by Pakistani households:

“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 that could otherwise be spent in school, at work, or with their families. The absence of safe water also brings health risks and places additional strain on household life. Addressing this gap is therefore not only a matter of public service delivery but also of fairness and opportunity.”

Underlining water as a basic human right, he emphasized:

“Access to safe water and sanitation is a basic right recognised under our Constitution. Ensuring reliable and safe water supply must remain a national priority. It requires careful management of our water resources, investment in water systems, and greater participation of women in planning and decision-making.”

President Zardari also encouraged citizens to take simple steps such as rainwater harvesting to help replenish aquifers and raise the water table.

He stressed that small community efforts can have a meaningful impact on overall water availability, warning about growing pressures on water resources:

“Water sustains our agriculture, our cities, and our natural environment. As pressures on water resources grow due to population demands and climate variability, we must use water with greater care.”