PM Shehbaz Says Water Is ‘Lifeblood’ of Region, Must Never Be Weaponised

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday, the prime minister said lasting peace was essential if countries in the region were to unlock their full economic and development potential.

“Water is the lifeblood of our region,” Shehbaz said, highlighting its importance for millions of people who depend on shared water resources for agriculture, livelihoods and economic activity.

He warned against using water as a means of political pressure, saying it could not be treated as an instrument of coercion or exploited to gain political leverage.

The prime minister also stressed the importance of respecting existing agreements governing shared water resources. Without directly naming India, he referred to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and called for the agreement to be honoured.

The treaty, brokered by the World Bank and signed by Pakistan and India in 1960, establishes a framework for sharing the waters of the Indus river system between the two countries.

Shehbaz’s remarks come amid continuing tensions between Pakistan and India over water resources and the future of the Indus Waters Treaty. Islamabad has repeatedly maintained that unilateral measures affecting the treaty could have serious consequences for millions of people whose livelihoods depend on the river system.

The prime minister linked the issue of water security to broader regional stability, arguing that cooperation rather than confrontation was necessary to address challenges facing SCO member states.

He said the region could not “realise its full potential without lasting peace”, underlining the need for dialogue, cooperation and respect for international commitments.

Water security has become an increasingly important issue across South and Central Asia as countries face growing populations, climate-related challenges, changing rainfall patterns and increasing pressure on freshwater resources.

For Pakistan, the Indus River system is particularly critical, providing water for agriculture, drinking supplies, hydropower generation and other economic activities.

Shehbaz urged regional countries to view shared water resources as a basis for cooperation rather than conflict, emphasizing that access to water should not become a source of political confrontation.

His comments at the SCO summit placed water security alongside broader regional issues, including peace, economic cooperation and sustainable development, as countries seek greater collaboration within the multilateral organization.