Pakistan Vows Wetlands Conservation Amid Water Disputes

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to wetland conservation and sustainable water management. On the occasion of World Wetlands Day, the President highlighted Pakistan’s role as a signatory of the 1971 Ramsar Convention, which promotes the protection and sustainable use of wetlands for current and future generations. He noted that Sindh faces significant challenges due to wetland degradation, historical water shortages, and rising sea levels. Zardari emphasized that safeguarding these ecosystems is not only an environmental responsibility but also critical for public welfare and national resilience.

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The President also expressed concern over India’s unilateral actions affecting the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, warning that the suspension of treaty mechanisms, including hydrological data sharing, undermines trust at a time when climate pressures require regional cooperation. “Water must never be used as a tool of coercion. The weaponization of water threatens millions of lives, livelihoods, and food security,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed these concerns, stating Pakistan strongly rejects any use of water as a tool of war and stresses full adherence to international law and the Indus Waters Treaty. He added that Pakistan will continue to advocate globally for the fair, legal, and peaceful use of transboundary water resources. Sharif further underscored the importance of protecting lakes, glaciers, rivers, and coastal ecosystems, noting that their conservation is vital for climate change mitigation, water management, and societal welfare.