ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is hosting the first-ever international seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty in Islamabad on Tuesday, bringing together renowned water and legal experts from around the world to highlight Islamabad’s rights under the landmark water-sharing agreement.
Announcing the seminar at a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the event would address various legal and technical aspects of the treaty and raise international awareness of Pakistan's water rights.
Titled “Indus Water Treaty: An Instrument of Peace & Regional Stability,” the seminar’s first two sessions will be addressed by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Besides, several foreign delegates, water experts, engineers, foreign dignitaries, former ministers and government functionaries would speak and present papers during the three sessions of the one-day seminar, which is being described as the first of its kind.
“The global community has consistently acknowledged Pakistan's position on the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a significant success for the country in the narrative domain,” said the minister, who will deliver the opening address at the seminar.
Emphasizing that the treaty cannot be unilaterally revoked, suspended or amended by any one party, Tarar said, “Pakistan's rights under the agreement remain legally protected.”
Reaffirming the government's commitment to safeguarding the country's water interests, the information minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir have declared water Pakistan's lifeline and red line.
Speaking at the news conference, Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik said that Pakistan has consistently raised the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty at international fora, including the United Nations and that the Court of Arbitration has also upheld Pakistan's legal position.
He reiterated that Pakistan would not allow any attempt to obstruct or divert its share of water under the treaty.
Dr Malik stressed the importance of developing a national consensus on constructing dams to enhance water storage capacity and ensure reliable water supplies for agriculture.
He said regulating water resources through additional reservoirs was essential for the country's long-term water security.
