Spokesperson to the Sindh Government and Mayor Sukkur Barrister Arslan Sheikh has stated that Pakistan will continue to safeguard its due share of water allocated under the Indus Water Treaty, calling the agreement a vital guarantee for the country’s agriculture and livelihoods.
Speaking with civil society representatives on Sunday, the Mayor said the Indus Water Treaty remains the foundation of Pakistan’s water rights and any attempt to undermine it will be resisted at all forums.
He said that the Indus Water Treaty is not just a document it is the lifeline of 240 million Pakistanis, adding that the Pakistan will continue to protect its share of water allocated under the treaty. Our farmers, our crops, and the future of Sindh depend on it. We expect the international community and India to uphold the spirit and terms of this agreement, he said.
Barrister Arslan highlighted that the rivers allocated to Pakistan under the treaty are essential for irrigation in Sindh, Punjab and other provinces. Any reduction or diversion, he added, would directly affect food security, drinking water and the economy of lower riparian areas including Sukkur and the entire Sindh province.
The Mayor further urged the Federal Government to take a firm diplomatic stance to ensure full implementation of the treaty. He also called on technical experts and legal teams to monitor water flows and raise concerns immediately if Pakistan’s share is affected.
Civil society members and farmers present at the gathering expressed support for the Mayor’s stance, saying protecting water rights is directly linked to protecting the people of Sindh.
The Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960 between Pakistan and India with the World Bank as guarantor, allocates the three western rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab to Pakistan, while the three eastern rivers are for India.