Torrential rains and India’s aggressive release of water have caused catastrophic flooding across Punjab, submerging dozens of villages, roads, and buildings. Train service between Lahore and Sialkot has been suspended, and the army has been called in for five more districts. Meanwhile, the United Nations has released $600,000 in emergency aid to help Pakistan deal with the devastation caused by monsoon rains and floods.
The fertile plains of Punjab — long known for their grain, greenery, culture, and compassion — are now gripped by the ruthless flow of water. Due to severe flooding in the rivers Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab, 17 people have lost their lives so far. This is being called the worst flood in four decades, which has destroyed hundreds of villages and submerged vital crops.
According to PDMA (Provincial Disaster Management Authority), over 1.46 million people have been affected, and 1,692 localities have gone underwater due to the overflowing of the three rivers.
While monsoon rains are typical this season, the destruction caused in Pakistan due to India’s sudden release of floodwaters from its dams is unparalleled in the world. India, in violation of rights, has constructed countless dams — both legal and illegal.
The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan was established to regulate and ensure peaceful, developmental, and sustainable use of shared natural resources. However, when India unilaterally suspended the treaty and stopped sharing information, it ceased to be merely a legal or diplomatic issue and turned into a humanitarian crisis.
The water entering Pakistan’s rivers and territories in the form of violent flood surges from India has now officially been termed as “water aggression.”
Concerns regarding this Indian aggression had already been raised by Pakistan in May of this year, when India violated international law and unilaterally announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Just days later, India began releasing massive floodwaters into Pakistan.
On August 11, the International Court of Justice declared the Indus Waters Treaty to be enforceable under international law and obligated India to comply with it in its true spirit.
Pakistan had approached the Court of Arbitration to address its concerns over India’s construction activities on the rivers.
Due to Indian stubbornness, the meeting of Indus Water Commissioners between Pakistan and India has not taken place in the past three years. The last meeting was held on May 30-31, 2022, in New Delhi.
The Indus Waters Treaty is a bilateral international agreement between Pakistan and India, which India cannot unilaterally terminate.
Water experts have warned that immediate, serious, and practical steps are urgently needed for water conservation. Water is not just a natural blessing but the lifeline of the nation, and now is the time to save it.
Without an effective strategy, this crisis could turn into a major threat to national security, including food security.
A lack of dams, government inattention, and water wastage have further worsened the situation.
Experts have called for the storage of rainwater, the adoption of modern water management systems, and a national awareness campaign. They stressed that building dams, implementing an effective water policy, and using technology are essential to saving this vital lifeline.
