Pakistan Faces Acute Water Risk After India’s Treaty Move
Pakistan faces a severe threat of water scarcity following Indus Waters Treaty-related tensions with India, a recent analysis warns. The country heavily depends on river flows from the Indus Basin for both agriculture and hydropower. Experts highlight that Pakistan’s current water storage infrastructure can buffer only about 30 days of flow, making it extremely vulnerable to even minor disruptions.
What Has Changed
India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty earlier this year amid escalating diplomatic disputes. While India’s infrastructure is not yet capable of fully stopping downstream flows, the report indicates that even modest changes in water release schedules could have dire ripple effects for Pakistan’s farming sector and overall water security.
Implications for Agriculture and Power
The report estimates that over 80% of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on the Indus Basin rivers. Disruptions in water availability could reduce crop yields, increase food prices and strain hydropower generation. Officials fear any decrease in river flow during critical growing seasons could hit vulnerable rural areas the hardest.
Strategic and Environmental Dimensions
The water-scarcity risk is compounded by climate change, glacial melt and rising temperatures, which already strain Pakistan’s water system. The treaty suspension adds a geopolitical dimension, turning water from a resource issue into a strategic one. Analysts warn that Pakistan must rapidly expand storage capacity, diversify water sources and accelerate irrigation reforms to avoid crisis.
