Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani promised on Monday to provide legislative backing, oversight, and budgetary funds to implement commitments from Pakistan Water Week 2026.
Gilani identified water security as a top national priority and urged the legislature to ensure that water policies provide tangible benefits for farming communities and those suffering from shortages or floods. The Senate Chairman noted that the 2022 floods impacted approximately 33 million people and resulted in economic losses and damage exceeding $30 billion.
According to Gilani, the amount of water available per person has dropped from over 5,000 cubic metres to roughly 1,000 cubic metres. Mr Gilani also reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty remains a binding and valid agreement, adding that water should never be used as a tool for pressure.
He advocated for a Pakistan that is resilient to floods and water-secure by the time of its centenary in 2047. More than 200 attendees joined the opening session of the five-day event taking place in Islamabad from 2 to 6 November.
The Ministry of Water Resources and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, alongside the CGIAR Policy Innovations Science Program and IWMI, are organising the conference. The programme consists of two thematic tracks, each containing 13 sessions. Dr Muhammad Ashraf stated that economic stability, climate resilience, and food security are all closely tied to water security.
Dr Mohsin Hafeez remarked that while Pakistan possesses significant ideas and evidence, it requires a collective commitment to turn them into reality. The event is scheduled to conclude with a closing ceremony on 5 November.
