INDIA FIRST | NATIONAL DESK | PUNEET PATEL |
Pakistan’s water crisis has worsened after India kept the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) in Pakistan reported a significant drop in river inflows, especially in the Chenab, leading to an anticipated 21% water shortage for the early Kharif season (May–June 2025). This reduction is directly linked to India’s move to suspend the treaty, which has resulted in less water being released downstream.
However, experts emphasize that the impact is not yet an immediate or total cutoff. India currently lacks the infrastructure to fully block or divert the bulk of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers; any major new reservoirs or diversions would take years to build. For now, the main effect is a reduction in water flow, causing acute shortages for Pakistani farmers and raising concerns for agriculture, power generation, and food security.
In summary, while the crisis has intensified and shortages have become more pronounced since the treaty’s suspension, the most severe, long-term impacts would depend on whether India develops the capacity to further restrict or divert river flows in the future
Experts warn that even modest reductions or changes in flow timing can disrupt Pakistan’s farming cycles and energy generation, and the long-term risk of severe shortages will grow if India invests in large-scale water storage and diversion infrastructure .
Indiafirst.online