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LAHORE, Dec 28 (APP):SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s former president Iftikhar Ali Malik urged the international community to exert pressure on India for immediate restoration of Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cautioning that continued violations could destabilise peace and economic stability in South Asia.
In a media statement issued here Sunday, he mentioned, the IWT brokered by World Bank in 1960, remains a vital pillar of regional stability and cooperation, adding that India must uphold international law and honour its treaty obligations.
“Water is a basic human right and a shared natural resource. Using it as a political tool violates international norms and undermines trust between neighbouring countries,” he remarked.
Highlighting Pakistan’s dependence on the Indus river system, Malik said, any disruption in water flows could severely impact agriculture, food security and livelihoods of millions of people.
He stressed that peace, trade and economic development in South Asia are closely interlinked and cannot flourish in an atmosphere of uncertainty and coercion.
SAARC Chamber’s former president called upon the United Nations, World Bank and other international stakeholders to play a proactive role in ensuring sanctity of the treaty through impartial monitoring and effective enforcement.