Islamabad, 2-Feb-2026 (PPI): President Asif Ali Zardari issued a stern message on Monday, accusing India of taking unilateral actions that affect the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and asserting that the "weaponisation of water as an instrument of war against Pakistan must be rejected."
In a statement marking World Wetlands Day, the President expressed serious concern over the suspension of treaty mechanisms, including the sharing of hydrological data, which he stated undermines trust and predictability at a time when climate pressures demand greater transboundary cooperation. He stressed that water must never be used as a tool of coercion, warning that the disruption of river flows threatens millions of lives and food systems reliant on the Indus Basin.
The President's remarks came as he reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to conserving its vital wetland ecosystems. He highlighted the 2026 theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” noting that these areas are living cultural landscapes shaped over centuries by local communities whose knowledge supports livelihoods and biodiversity.
Across the country, Pakistan’s diverse aquatic habitats, from glacial lakes to coastal mangroves, are facing mounting pressures. The President’s message detailed threats including erratic monsoons, variable glacial melt, heatwaves, and climate-amplified pollution.
The province of Sindh was identified as bearing a disproportionate burden of this environmental degradation. The Indus Delta and its mangrove forests, once among the world’s most abundant, now face severe salinity intrusion and coastal erosion, imperilling fish breeding grounds. Inland water bodies such as Keenjhar, Haleji, and Manchar lakes are suffering from reduced freshwater inflows and concentrated pollution, impacting fisheries and migratory bird routes.
President Zardari underscored the critical link between these natural resources and public welfare. For millions of citizens, wetlands provide fish, livestock grazing, and materials for shelter. Their degradation leads to loss of income, rising food costs, unsafe water, and increased exposure to natural disasters.
Describing healthy wetlands as "frontline climate defenders," the President pointed out that while Pakistan is one of the countries least responsible for climate change, it is among the most exposed to its consequences. He emphasised that these ecosystems are cost-effective solutions that reduce floods, store carbon, and protect coastlines, thereby delivering high returns for the economy and national resilience.
Concluding his message, President Zardari urged all citizens, particularly youth and policymakers, to value and sustainably manage wetlands. He framed the protection of these ecosystems not just as an environmental duty but as a fundamental component of Pakistan's climate justice advocacy and national resilience.