The world is trying to improve the way it manages rivers that are shared by countries following the idea of “One Water-One Vision”. However India is going in the direction.
For over sixty-five years the Indus Waters Treaty has been a successful agreement between India and Pakistan on how to share the water of the Indus River. This treaty has been very important for Pakistans development of its water resources.
The treaty allowed Pakistan to build the Indus Basin Irrigation System, which’s the largest irrigation system in the world. This system includes three reservoirs, six barrages, twelve canals that connect the rivers and a network of smaller canals that irrigate almost 35 million acres of land. This land produces than 90 percent of Pakistans food.
Pakistans hydropower system, agriculture and economy have all developed based on the predictable flow of water from the western rivers. The treaty has also helped to keep the region stable.
In May 2025 India suddenly announced that it was putting the treaty on hold. This move is being seen as a violation of international law and the treatys rules.
Recently there was a meeting in Geneva where countries agreed to work together to manage shared rivers better.. India is doing the opposite.
Indias decision to hold the treaty in abeyance has consequences for Pakistan. It means that Pakistan can no longer rely on the treaty to ensure its water, food and energy security.
Since May 2025 India has been building infrastructure upstream on the western rivers. This includes plans to expand the Ranbir Canal and build the Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel. These projects could severely threaten Pakistans long-term water security.
India has also stopped sharing data on the western rivers with Pakistan. This data is necessary for Pakistan to predict floods and prepare for emergencies. Without it Pakistan is at risk of losing lives damaging infrastructure and suffering losses.
Indias actions are not in line with principles and are undermining international cooperation on water management. They are also making it harder for Pakistan to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals.
As a country that’s downstream of India, Pakistans irrigation system, reservoirs, agriculture and industry all rely on the water that comes from upstream. Any uncertainty in the flow of water poses a challenge to Pakistans national security.
The Indus Basin is a system and the reliability of the water flow is crucial for its operation. The Chenab River is particularly important as it irrigates 10 million acres of land and supports millions of peoples livelihoods.
The geographical location of the Chenab River with its catchment area in India makes it vulnerable to upstream regulation. Pakistan has limited ability to offset any changes in the water flow making the reliability of the Chenab River indispensable for the countrys water security.
Until recently the debate was focused on whether individual Indian projects were in line with the Indus Waters Treaty.. Now the concern is about the cumulative impact of multiple projects on the Chenab River.
Technical assessments show that existing projects already give India the ability to regulate the Chenab Rivers flow for periods. New projects will only increase this capability posing a threat to Pakistans water security.
The implications of Indias actions are more serious than a military conflict. Pakistan needs to respond with a whole-of-the-nation approach.
Pakistans response should be based on three pillars: engagement, legal action and strategic water development. The country should continue to pursue avenues to preserve the integrity of the Indus Waters Treaty and engage the international community to reinforce the importance of honoring international agreements.
Pakistan should also continue to safeguard its rights through mechanisms and accelerate the development of its own water resources. This includes increasing strategic water storage capacity enhancing water availability and improving irrigation efficiency.
Projects like the Diamer-Basha dam, Mohmand dam and Tarbelas fifth extension are priorities. They will help increase storage improve flood regulation and expand hydropower generation.
The construction of dams in Pakistan is a debated topic but the hydrological realities of the Indus Basin are clear. The country needs water storage to ensure sustainable water supplies strengthen food security and mitigate floods.
Recently Pakistans provinces have agreed to contribute to the development of strategic water storage infrastructure. This consensus marks a milestone in fast-tracking ongoing and future water and energy sector projects.
The Tarbela and Mangla dams have generated economic benefits since their construction. New projects will have benefits making them strategic investments, in Pakistans long-term water, food and energy security.
The World Bank says that the Tarbela Dam has given Pakistan benefits of more than $460 billion. The Mangla Dam has also given Pakistan benefits of than $301 billion. These dams are among the investments Pakistan has ever made.
Pakistan needs to update the way it manages the Indus Basin system. This can be done by using real-time telemetry and satellite-based monitoring. We should also use intelligence and advanced hydrological forecasting. All of this information should be used to make models of the basin.
Nowadays it is very important to have information about water. This information is just as important as the infrastructure. Pakistan needs to use science to manage its water and make decisions based on data. This should be a part of Pakistans national water strategy.
Pakistan should be confident, not complacent. We should keep defending the Indus Waters Treaty through diplomacy and international law. We expect India to follow the treaty. At the time Pakistan should keep investing in its water infrastructure increase its storage capacity and improve its irrigation system. We should also use technologies to manage the basin.
The Indus Waters Treaty has worked because it says that managing rivers that flow through countries is necessary for peace and prosperity. So it is very important that we follow the treaty. This is not a legal requirement, but also necessary for Pakistans water, food and energy security.
People will judge us on what we do to secure water, for Pakistans future. We need to have a vision be united and be determined to give Pakistan the water it needs.
The person writing this is the chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority.
