Berlin: Pakistan has reiterated its principled position that water security is fundamental to food security, and cooperation over shared water resources is essential for peace and stability. Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain stated this while representing Pakistan at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture-2026 in Berlin, Germany.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to international water law and highlighted the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 as a vital framework for regional water stability. He expressed serious concern over India's announcement last year to unilaterally hold the Treaty in abeyance, emphasizing that water from the Indus river system is a lifeline for Pakistan.
The Minister said Pakistan's food system is heavily dependent on the Indus Basin, which supports agriculture, industry, and ecosystems for over 240 million people. He highlighted how recent devastating floods and prolonged dry spells have exposed the vulnerability of this system and reinforced the urgent need for a shift towards water resilience.
The Minister outlined Pakistan's priorities on water resilience, sustainable agriculture, and food security in the context of climate change and growing global water stress. He mentioned ongoing reforms by the government to improve water productivity in agriculture.
Rana Tanveer Hussain further highlighted Pakistan's efforts to promote the safe and science-based reuse of treated wastewater to develop a sustainable blue bioeconomy. On the sidelines of the Forum, the Minister met Deputy Director General of World Trade Organization Jean-Marie Paugam, where issues of mutual interest were discussed with a particular focus on agriculture and food systems.
He reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to work with international partners, research institutions, the private sector, and civil society to advance water resilience, inclusive food systems, and transform water from a source of risk into a foundation for sustainable development and peace.