Islamabad: Pakistan’s vital Indus River basin is facing unprecedented pressure from climate change, mismanagement, and ecological decline, Federal Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo warned while addressing the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference 2026 organised by Dawn Media Group.
Describing the basin as the country’s “lifeline,” the minister emphasised its central role in national food security and economic stability. “If it is secure, Pakistan is secure. But today, that lifeline is under pressure,” he said, citing unpredictable glacial behaviour in the north and worsening environmental conditions downstream.
He highlighted the alarming decline of the Indus Delta, where sea intrusion is advancing and communities are increasingly vulnerable. Stressing reform, Wattoo called for efficient water usage, particularly in agriculture, which consumes the largest share of national resources. “Better irrigation practices and rational water management are no longer optional but necessary,” he noted, urging a shift towards disciplined and coordinated water governance.
Water policy expert Dr Erum Sattar warned that the basin is being squeezed by climate-induced glacial disruption, regional pressures, and outdated governance frameworks. She pointed out that while the Indus irrigates nearly 90% of Pakistan’s food production, almost half of irrigation water now comes from rapidly depleting aquifers. “We are quite literally mining the water beneath our feet,” she cautioned.
Sattar also underscored the shrinking delta ecosystem, once among the most productive in the region, now facing collapsing fisheries and rising socio-economic risks. Around 50 million people in Sindh depend on the river system, making its sustainability a matter of national security in an era of climate shocks and global supply chain disruptions.
Speaking at the conference, Simi Kamal, Chairperson of the Hisaar Foundation, advocated for nature-based solutions instead of large-scale infrastructure and stressed the urgent need for effective local governance. She highlighted institutional fragmentation as a major hurdle and called for stronger coordination and community-centric water management.
Experts at the conference agreed that the future of the Indus Basin hinges on decisive policy action, institutional reforms, and sustainable practices. “The Indus has sustained civilisations for centuries — what happens next will be defined by the choices we make today,” Sattar concluded.
