New York: Pakistan has issued a stern warning against the weaponization of water, describing it as a threat to civilization, livelihoods, and regional stability. During a high-level event at the United Nations commemorating World Water Day, Dr. Musadik Malik, Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change, addressed the assembly through a video message, emphasizing the dire consequences of such actions.

According to Radio Pakistan, Dr. Malik specifically criticized India’s decision to politicize water by putting the Indus Waters Treaty into abeyance, calling it an attack on Pakistan’s civilization, livelihoods, and economic future. He argued that India’s unilateral move is deeply concerning, especially amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, and undermines a longstanding framework of cooperation that has been vital for both nations.

The minister highlighted the critical role of agriculture in Pakistan’s economy, noting that it accounts for approximately 25 to 30 percent of the country’s GDP and employs nearly half of its workforce. He also underscored that more than sixty-one percent of women’s employment is tied to agriculture, illustrating the direct link between water access, women’s empowerment, and economic well-being.

Dr. Malik further drew attention to the human and social costs of climate-induced disasters in Pakistan. He reported that over the past four major floods, nearly six thousand people have lost their lives, around twenty thousand have been injured or disabled, and approximately 40 million people have been displaced.