He warned that growing water stress threatens agriculture, livelihoods, food supplies and the country’s long term economic future.

The minister was speaking while chairing the first meeting of the National Water Security Task Force, formed to tackle rising water risks linked to climate change, upstream pressures and rapid population growth. He made it clear that Pakistan can no longer rely on short term fixes or emergency responses.

‘Water is no longer just a resource issue, it is a national security, food security and economic stability issue,’ Ahsan Iqbal said, according to an official statement. ‘We must move from reacting to crises to planning for resilience.’

Officials at the meeting highlighted the scale of the challenge facing the country. Nearly 80 percent of Pakistan’s water comes from rivers, making it highly vulnerable to changes in upstream flows and climate patterns.

The situation is becoming more serious as glaciers in the Hindukush Himalaya region melt at an alarming rate. Around 23 percent of glacier ice has already disappeared since 1960, reducing a key natural water reserve.

The minister warned that increasing water stress could hit Pakistan where it hurts most. Agriculture, which supports millions of livelihoods and feeds the nation, is under direct threat. Reduced and unpredictable water supplies also put food security at risk and weaken economic growth over time.

To address these challenges, Ahsan Iqbal directed officials to prepare a long term National Water Security Master Plan extending to 2047 or 2050. He stressed that the plan must align with Pakistan’s overall development goals and reflect future needs, not just present pressures.

He also instructed that water and food security be fully woven into the government’s 5Es Framework and national planning priorities, ensuring that water management is treated as a core pillar of development rather than a side issue.

The minister underlined the urgent need to speed up major water storage projects, including the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams. He described these projects as critical steps toward building national resilience, helping Pakistan store water during wet periods and release it during dry spells.

To turn ideas into action, Ahsan Iqbal ordered the creation of a technical working group with representatives from WAPDA, IRSA, the National Flood Commission, provincial governments, academia and the private sector. The group has been tasked with presenting practical, time bound and workable solutions, backed by a clear roadmap for implementation.

During the meeting, the minister also voiced concern over India’s upstream water management practices. He said New Delhi is increasingly ‘weaponising water’ by holding back flows during key periods and releasing water suddenly during monsoon seasons, creating artificial shortages and floods.

Such actions, he warned, add to Pakistan’s climate related risks, damage crops and place national food security under strain.

Prof Ahsan Iqbal concluded by stressing that Pakistan must urgently expand its water storage capacity, build strategic buffers and adopt long term planning to safeguard its economy and future generations.

‘This is not only about managing water,’ he said. ‘It is about securing Pakistan’s future and ensuring that today’s development does not come at the cost of tomorrow.’