Pakistan PM Vows to Expand Water Storage Amid Indian Threat to Divert River Waters

In a bold statement addressing rising water security concerns, Pakistan’s Prime Minister has pledged to significantly expand the country’s water storage capacity. The move comes amid increasing fears that India may divert rivers that flow into Pakistan water storage capacity, a possibility that has long been a contentious issue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors

India controls the upstream flow of several rivers under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a historic agreement brokered by the World Bank. While the treaty has largely held over the decades, recent political tensions and infrastructure projects initiated by India have raised alarms in Islamabad. Pakistan fears that India’s construction of dams and barrages on rivers like the Chenab and Jhelum could reduce the water available downstream—critical for Pakistan’s agriculture-dependent economy.

Responding to these concerns, the Prime Minister declared that Pakistan would accelerate the construction of new dams and reservoirs to ensure national water security. He emphasized that the country could no longer afford to rely on external assurances and must proactively manage its own resources. Projects like the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam were highlighted as top priorities water storage capacity, with promises of fast-tracked completion and increased government investment.

Experts believe Pakistan loses a significant amount of water annually due to inadequate storage infrastructure. With climate change worsening water availability and glacial melt accelerating, expanding storage is not just a strategic necessity—it’s a matter of survival.

The Prime Minister also called on international bodies and neighboring countries to respect water-sharing agreements and to prioritize cooperation over confrontation. He warned that any attempt to unilaterally alter river flows could destabilize regional peace and trigger serious consequences.

As tensions simmer, the spotlight remains on how both countries will navigate the increasingly critical issue of shared water resources. For Pakistan, building resilience through water storage is no longer optional—it’s an urgent national imperative.