Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that India is trying to use water as a weapon, affirming that the International Court of Arbitration’s ruling made it clear India cannot unilaterally suspend or terminate the Indus Waters Treaty.
“We have to thwart the enemy’s nefarious intentions,” the Prime Minister stated.
Addressing the ceremony, the Prime Minister said that the construction of water reservoirs will be completed on priority basis, and the government is determined to complete other projects including the Diamer-Bhasha Dam with its own resources.
Terming the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as a multi-purpose important national institution, he said that the institution was built on modern lines after the 2022 floods. The role of NDMA in the risk awareness system is key, and the steps taken to provide timely information are commendable.
The Prime Minister said, “Unfortunately, Pakistan is among the countries that are being affected the most by climate change, although our share in greenhouse gas emissions is very small. In the context of this situation, infrastructure construction is inevitable, for which public-private partnership should be promoted.”
He stressed that NDMA has a huge responsibility in dealing with climate change, and its coordination with the provinces is essential.
“The capacity of the national disaster management agency will be increased so that the goals of socio-economic development can be achieved.”
Referring to the Swat tragedy, Shahbaz Sharif said that precious lives were lost in this tragic incident, the entire nation was in mourning. He concluded, “This situation should be honestly assessed beyond politics, and if no report of the incident has been prepared, then a report should be prepared immediately.”
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