Islamabad, November 2,2026: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has warned that any attempt to block, suspend or divert Pakistan’s legitimate share of water would constitute an act of war and invite a direct response, declaring that Pakistan would never allow water to be weaponized or used as an instrument of geopolitical pressure.
Addressing the Sixth Pakistan Water Week 2026 as chief guest, Gilani asserted that the Indus Waters Treaty remains a binding international agreement and no party can unilaterally alter, suspend or revoke its provisions.
He said Pakistan’s position on the treaty was firm and principled, warning that any attempt to undermine the country’s rights under the agreement would have serious consequences.
Highlighting the growing challenges confronting Pakistan’s water sector, the Chairman Senate said the country was facing a dual crisis of catastrophic floods that displace millions and prolonged droughts that deplete soil resources and threaten agricultural productivity.
He added that declining per capita water availability had brought Pakistan to a critical threshold, making water security an urgent national priority.
Congratulating the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Ministry of Water Resources, the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and other development partners, Gilani appreciated their efforts in sustaining Pakistan Water Week as an important platform for scientific dialogue, policy development and collaborative solutions.
Recalling his tenure as prime minister during the devastating 2010 floods, which affected approximately 20 million people, Gilani said he had witnessed first-hand the enormous human cost of natural disasters.
Referring to his engagement with flood-affected communities during recent floods, he said he had personally witnessed their suffering, heard their accounts and mobilized efforts for relief and rehabilitation.
“Every disaster is a warning we ignored. Disaster response is not resilience, and no single institution can address these challenges in isolation,” he emphasized.
The Chairman Senate stressed that Pakistan must move beyond a reactive approach to disaster management and develop a comprehensive framework focused on prevention, preparedness, climate adaptation and long-term resilience.
He called for stronger institutional coordination, enforceable legislation, effective planning and adequate financial allocations for preventive measures.
Gilani assured that the Senate would play its constitutional and institutional role in supporting this transition through legislation governing river basins, parliamentary oversight to ensure water policies deliver tangible benefits to farmers and communities, and advocacy for dedicated budgetary allocations for disaster prevention and water conservation.
Emphasizing water as a unifying factor for the federation, he said equitable distribution and effective coordination between the federal and provincial governments were essential for national cohesion.
He referred to the 1991 Water Accord and the National Water Policy 2018 as important milestones reflecting the country’s collective commitment to managing its water resources. However, he stressed that effective implementation remained the real challenge.
He said the Senate, as the House of the Federation, provided an important constitutional forum for strengthening federal-provincial cooperation, building consensus and addressing issues of national significance.
Gilani further observed that Pakistan’s water security was closely linked with its agricultural economy, food security, environmental sustainability and overall economic development.
He called for greater investment in water conservation, efficient irrigation systems, modern water management technologies, research and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
He also emphasized that scientific research, innovation and knowledge-sharing must remain central to policymaking, while partnerships among government institutions, research organizations, academia and international development partners should be strengthened to develop practical and sustainable solutions.
Setting a national vision for the future, the Chairman Senate said Pakistan must emerge as a water-secure and flood-resilient nation by 2047, when the country would celebrate 100 years of independence.
He expressed confidence that sustained institutional partnerships, scientific expertise and collective national commitment would enable Pakistan to achieve this vision. He particularly acknowledged the contributions of IWMI and its development partners in supporting the country’s efforts to address complex water-related challenges.
Concluding his address, Gilani expressed hope that the Sixth Pakistan Water Week would produce actionable recommendations, innovative solutions and a clear roadmap for strengthening Pakistan’s water security.
