By Uzma Ehtasham
Speaking at an international forum in Vienna, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sounded a stark warning about the array of crises confronting the world today, from intensifying geopolitical tensions to the relentless pressures of climate change. But it was Pakistan’s own existential vulnerabilities that occupied much of his attention, particularly the fragile state of the Indus Waters Treaty and the broader challenges of water security. For Sharif, the issue was not abstract policy or diplomatic posturing; it was a matter of life and death for hundreds of millions of people whose livelihoods are inextricably bound to the waters of the Indus basin. The prime minister’s address brought into sharp relief a troubling paradox of the global climate and development landscape.
Pakistan, he argued, bears a disproportionate share of the damage wrought by climate change, despite having contributed almost nothing to the emissions driving the crisis. Floods, droughts, and extreme weather events have repeatedly devastated communities, destroyed crops, and disrupted the lives of millions, yet the international response has been slow, fragmented, and insufficient. Sharif’s message was clear: the world cannot continue to allow countries like Pakistan to shoulder the burden of environmental catastrophe while offering minimal support or recognition. Climate justice, he insisted, must move beyond rhetoric and into tangible action. Interwoven with this broader environmental critique was a sharp focus on Pakistan’s ongoing water dispute with India, a tension Sharif portrayed as both acute and strategically alarming.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered with the support of the World Bank more than half a century ago, was meant to provide a stable framework for shared water management between the two countries. But in recent years, India’s repeated actions—ranging from unilateral projects on shared rivers to threats of treaty cancellation—have cast doubt on the agreement’s durability. Sharif characterized these moves not merely as violations of a legal instrument, but as strategic maneuvers with potentially devastating consequences for Pakistani agriculture, industry, and daily life. “Water is a matter of national survival,” he said, emphasizing that the Indus system is far more than infrastructure; it sustains the existence of some 240 million people, underpinning both food security and economic stability.
Sharif did not mince words about the global mechanisms designed to adjudicate such disputes. While international forums such as the International Court of Justice and multilateral institutions like the World Bank and United Nations have historically played roles in mediating conflicts, he noted with frustration that these bodies have so far failed to take decisive action. India, he argued, has shown a pattern of selective engagement, recognizing rulings and recommendations only when they serve its interests. The result, Sharif suggested, is a dangerous vacuum in which a fundamental resource could be leveraged as a political weapon. The implicit message was sobering: if the international community does not act, the consequences could be catastrophic not just for Pakistan but for regional stability as a whole.
The prime minister’s remarks also illuminated the human dimension of water insecurity. Beyond the legal frameworks and diplomatic maneuvers, there are millions of Pakistanis whose daily lives hinge on reliable access to rivers and canals. Farmers depend on these waters to irrigate crops; industries rely on them for production; communities require them for drinking and sanitation. Disruptions, even minor ones, have ripple effects across society, jeopardizing livelihoods, inflating food prices, and heightening social tensions. In this context, the Indus is more than a river system—it is a lifeline, a shared heritage, and an essential pillar of national resilience. Sharif’s call for international engagement was as much an appeal to conscience as it was to pragmatism.
His appeal underscored that Pakistan cannot afford passivity; standing by while agreements are challenged or undermined is not an option when rivers—indeed, life itself—are at stake. In conclusion, Prime Minister Sharif’s speech was more than a catalogue of grievances. It was a stark reminder that global challenges—from climate change to geopolitical tensions—demand practical, urgent, and coordinated responses. For Pakistan, the survival of the Indus system is inseparable from the survival of its people. The prime minister’s message was unambiguous: without international intervention, legal accountability, and constructive diplomacy, the rivers that sustain millions risk becoming instruments of conflict rather than sources of life. The world, he insisted, must recognize that water is not merely a national resource—it is a shared, indispensable, and profoundly human right, deserving of protection and respect before it is too late.
(The writer is a public health professional, journalist, and possesses expertise in health communication, having keen interest in national and international affairs, can be reached at uzma@metro-morning.com)
