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Pakistan is grappling with a severe water crisis, particularly in Punjab province, as water levels in the Indus River system have dropped significantly. The crisis comes at a critical time, coinciding with the Kharif sowing season and an ongoing heatwave.
According to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), water availability as of June 2 has decreased by over 10% compared to the same time last year, with key reservoirs like Tarbela and Mangla dams nearing critical levels. The delayed arrival of the Southwest Monsoon, expected only by the end of June, is compounding irrigation challenges for farmers already under stress.
The situation has worsened following a sudden reduction in the Chenab River’s inflow, attributed to India’s suspension of water sharing under the Indus Waters Treaty. Islamabad claims this move follows the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which India linked to cross-border militancy.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, allocates 80% of water from the Indus system to Pakistan, while India retains 20%. With the treaty now in abeyance, India has also stopped sharing vital flood data, raising fears of unanticipated monsoon flooding in low-lying Pakistani regions.
On June 2, 2025, Punjab province had 128,800 cusecs of water available, 14,800 cusecs less than the same day last year, IRSA reported. The federal government confirmed a 10.3% decline in the overall availability of water in Punjab under the Indus system.
Tensions escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, where five gunmen killed 26 tourists. In response, India suspended the 65-year-old Indus Water Treaty, stopped sharing river flow data, and launched Operation Sindoor, a four-day military operation that destroyed terrorist camps in Pakistan.
India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, combined with border tensions and military actions, has left Pakistan vulnerable. The Attari border checkpoint was sealed, visas suspended, and High Commissioners recalled following the April attack.
