ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday invited opposition lawmakers to take part in a nationwide consultation aimed at formulating a joint strategy to address Pakistan’s mounting water and food security challenges.
Chairing a meeting at Parliament House, Mr Sadiq stressed that safeguarding the country’s future required the protection of its water resources and urgent action on food security. “National unity and collaborative efforts are essential to finding sustainable solutions to these pressing issues,” he said, adding that inclusive dialogue and joint decision-making were crucial to resolving national challenges.
The meeting was attended by members of the National Assembly, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman retired Lt-Gen Muhammad Saeed and senior officials from the Ministry of Water Resources. Lt-Gen Saeed briefed lawmakers on the country’s water situation, existing reservoirs, ongoing development projects and future requirements.
Mr Sadiq said water scarcity and food security were among the most serious challenges facing Pakistan and required immediate and coordinated measures. The sensitivity of the issue, he added, made it necessary to involve the opposition in shaping a comprehensive national response.
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The discussion came amid renewed concerns over sharp fluctuations in the flow of the Chenab River. According to media reports, the river has experienced erratic inflows after India abruptly released water from the Baglihar dam and then restricted it. Wapda data showed an increase of 58,300 cusecs on Monday when spillways were opened, followed by a drop of 48,000 cusecs within 24 hours. On Tuesday, river inflow stood at 10,100 cusecs, up from 7,000 cusecs the previous day.
Sadiq said that water scarcity and food security were the most serious national issues that required urgent and effective measures from all stakeholders.https://t.co/MUreYd5ZYh
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 10, 2025
Officials warned that continued restrictions on outflows from Baglihar could further reduce water levels in the Chenab, exacerbating downstream vulnerabilities and straining Pakistan’s water management systems. The pattern of sudden releases followed by abrupt stoppages has heightened anxieties over the stability of river flows and their impact on agriculture and hydropower generation.
Mr Sadiq has previously extended similar offers of dialogue to the opposition, emphasising that engagement between both sides is vital to addressing national issues. However, significant political differences have so far prevented meaningful progress.
