Overview
- Officials told the Senate committee that the Hague-based Court of Arbitration affirmed the Indus Waters Treaty remains effective and binding despite India’s claim of abeyance.
- WAPDA reported a roughly $3.5 billion financing shortfall for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, which currently relies on Pakistan’s Public Sector Development Programme with no World Bank or Chinese funding.
- Progress on the Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha projects was described as partial, though reported completion percentages conflicted across briefings, prompting calls for clearer updates.
- Consultations on a Dam Safety Bill are complete and the draft is headed to the federal cabinet, while the National Flood Protection Plan has been submitted to the Council of Common Interests.
- Punjab has removed 2,625 riverine encroachments with 83 still to clear as verified by SUPARCO, and a proposal for 707 telemetry stations with ADB support is under review with 17 sites already operational; lawmakers also flagged glacier-melt flood risks and staffing gaps at the Water Resources Ministry.