Islamabad: At the United Nations, Pakistan has warned against weaponization of water, calling it a threat to civilization, livelihoods and regional stability.

In a video message at a high-level event commemorating the World Water Day, Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik said politicization of water by India amounts to an attack on our civilization, livelihoods, and economic future.

The Minister said India's decision to unilaterally politicize water by placing the Indus Waters Treaty into abeyance is deeply concerning.

He said amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, such an abrupt and unilateral move is not only unjustified and illegal but also undermines a longstanding framework of cooperation.

He highlighted the importance of agriculture to Pakistan's economy and society, stating that approximately 25 to 30 percent of the country's GDP is linked to agriculture, while nearly half of its workforce depends on the sector for employment.

The Minister further pointed out that more than sixty-one percent of women's employment is connected to agriculture, underscoring the direct relationship between water access, women's empowerment and economic well-being.

Drawing attention to the human and social costs of climate-induced disasters in Pakistan, he said over the past four major floods, nearly six thousand people have lost their lives, around twenty thousand have been injured or disabled, and approximately 40 million people have been displaced.