Experts Call for Stronger Strategy on Indus Water Treaty Amid Concerns
At a recent IBA Karachi policy roundtable, experts emphasized the critical need for Pakistan to develop a more robust strategy for the Indus Water Treaty, citing concerns over institutional capacity and the need for specialized expertise in international water law.
KARACHI – Leading experts, academics, and officials gathered at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi recently to take a hard look at the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and how well Pakistan is prepared to handle challenges related to this vital water-sharing agreement with India.
The policy roundtable, titled “Indus Water Treaty in Perspective,” was organized by IBA’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER). The discussion focused on serious concerns, including the implications of a potential, though hypothetical, unilateral suspension of the treaty by India, which had been a point of discussion for April 2025.
A key takeaway from the meeting was the urgent need for Pakistan to build up its ability to deal with the complex legal and technical sides of the treaty on the world stage. While Pakistani universities do teach about water issues, the experts stressed that the country needs more specialists in international water law and diplomacy for transboundary water resources.
Participants also addressed common public perceptions, noting that stories in the media about India “blocking water” can be misleading. They explained that such actions would require massive infrastructure that isn’t in place and often serve more as political talking points than actual threats.
The role of the World Bank, which played a part in the original treaty, was also discussed. Experts felt its current role in solving disagreements isn’t clear. They warned that without a solid system for resolving conflicts between Pakistan and India, the treaty’s power to deal with new problems, like climate change or changing water needs, is weak.
Interestingly, some experts cautioned that simply building more dams isn’t the answer to Pakistan’s water problems. They pointed out that Pakistan is already facing a shortage of water and a long-term decrease in river flows, suggesting new dams might not be as effective as hoped.
Looking for solutions, the group called for a new working group to be set up under IBA-CBER. This group would bring together various stakeholders regularly to think through national and regional water strategies. The aim would be to come up with practical steps to update and strengthen the Indus Water Treaty for the future.
The session, which saw active participation from government officials, journalists, and academics, was guided by Dr. Lubna Naz, Director of IBA-CBER. Notable attendees included Mr. Muhammad Ehsan ul Haq Laghari from the Indus River System Authority, Advocate Shahab Usto, and Mr. Syed Jaffar Ahmed from IBA’s Board of Governors, among many other distinguished experts in water, climate, and policy.
