Pakistan, June 17 -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly asserted that Pakistan will protect its right to water as guaranteed by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). His statement came on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, observed annually on June 17. He emphasized that access to water is a lifeline for over 240 million people in Pakistan.

In his message, the Prime Minister raised serious concerns over India's unilateral actions that, he said, aim to place the treaty in abeyance. He warned that such actions have no legal basis under the IWT and threaten the region's stability. At the same time, he announced that Pakistan would boost its domestic water storage capacity to better manage future water challeng...