Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik has described the dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty as a global test of water justice, urging the international community to strengthen legal protections for downstream countries.
Speaking at an international seminar in Islamabad, Malik said the issue extends beyond Pakistan and has implications for billions of people who rely on transboundary rivers worldwide. He argued that the central challenge is not merely water scarcity or flooding, but control over water resources by upstream states.
The minister illustrated his remarks by recounting the story of a Pakistani farmer who abandoned agriculture after repeated floods destroyed his family’s livelihood. He also referred to communities in Bangladesh and Africa facing water shortages, saying similar challenges affect populations across multiple regions.
Malik said fluctuations in water flows at the Marala Barrage, despite the absence of rainfall, indicated upstream manipulation. He stressed that nearly half of Pakistan’s population depends on agriculture, making reliable water supplies essential for food security and the national economy.
Linking the issue to climate change, Malik said Pakistan has suffered extensive human and economic losses from flooding over the past 15 years, including thousands of deaths, injuries and large-scale displacement. He also highlighted the impact of disrupted education due to prolonged disasters.
The minister said Pakistan has referred the treaty dispute to international arbitration and argued that international legal mechanisms have placed limits on unilateral changes to water infrastructure. He criticised the rejection of international legal jurisdiction by the opposing side, warning that such actions could weaken the global rules-based order.
Calling for broader international action, Malik urged the creation of a binding global framework on water governance, similar to agreements governing trade and nuclear non-proliferation. He said stronger legal commitments are necessary to safeguard the rights of downstream nations and promote long-term regional stability and cooperation over shared water resources.