Islamabad: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Water Resources convened at the Parliament House under the leadership of Ahmad Atteeq Anwar to address several pressing issues, notably India’s recent decision to place the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance.

The meeting commenced with Syed Ali Murtaza, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, providing an overview of the ministry’s functions and performance. He detailed the roles and organizational structures of various departments, including the Federal Flood Commission and the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources.

Following this, the Chairman of WAPDA briefed the committee on the progress of key water projects, emphasizing efforts to generate cost-effective electricity. The committee resolved to conduct on-site inspections of the Dasu, Mohmand, and Neelum-Jhelum hydropower projects to gain deeper insights.

A significant portion of the meeting centered on India’s unilateral decision to hold the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. Syed Mehar Ali Shah, Additional Secretary Water Resources, informed the committee about the implications of this action, which the committee unanimously condemned as lacking legal basis.

The committee expressed its firm stance that the treaty remains intact and operational under Article XII. It further declared any Indian actions under this pretext as acts of war and an existential threat to Pakistan. It criticized India’s move as a form of moral and financial terrorism, equating it to weaponizing water resources.

The session was attended by key figures, including Muhammad Idrees, Mian Khan, and other members of the National Assembly, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and affiliated bodies.