Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday 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. He categorically declared that Pakistan would never allow water to be weaponized or used as an instrument of geopolitical pressure, emphasizing that the country's water security, sovereignty and national interests were non-negotiable.
Addressing the Sixth Pakistan Water Week 2026 as chief guest, he asserted that the Indus Waters Treaty remained a binding international agreement and no party could unilaterally alter, suspend or revoke its provisions. He stressed that Pakistan's position on the treaty was firm and principled, and any attempt to undermine its rights under the treaty would have serious consequences.
Highlighting the growing challenges confronting Pakistan's water sector, the Senate chairman said the country was facing a dual crisis of catastrophic floods that displaced millions of people and prolonged droughts that depleted soil resources and threatened agricultural productivity. At the same time, he noted that declining per capita water availability had brought the country 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, he appreciated their continued efforts in sustaining the Pakistan Water Week as an important platform for scientific dialogue, policy development and collaborative solutions to the country's water challenges.
Recalling his experience 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.
He observed that every major disaster carried lessons that must not be ignored. "Every disaster is a warning we ignored.
Disaster response is not resilience, and no single institution can address these challenges in isolation," he emphasized. He 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 underscored the need for stronger institutional coordination, enforceable legislation, effective planning and adequate financial allocations for preventive measures. He assured that the Senate would play its constitutional and institutional role in supporting this transition through legislation governing river basins, parliamentary oversight to ensure that water policies deliver tangible benefits to farmers and communities, and advocacy for dedicated budgetary allocations for disaster prevention and water conservation.
Emphasizing the importance of water as a unifying factor for the federation, he said equitable water distribution and effective coordination between the federation and provinces were essential for national cohesion. He referred to the 1991 Water Accord and the National Water Policy 2018 as important milestones reflecting consensus.
Concluding his address, the Senate chairman called for a united national resolve to secure Pakistan's water future for coming generations. He urged all stakeholders, including provincial governments, technical experts and civil society organizations, to work together with renewed commitment and vision.
The event was attended by federal ministers, foreign delegates, environmental experts, researchers and policymakers who discussed various strategies for sustainable water management and climate resilience in Pakistan.