ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday issued a stern warning to India, declaring there would be “no compromise” on Pakistan’s share of Indus River waters. Speaking on International Youth Day in Islamabad, the premier vowed that New Delhi would face an “unforgettable lesson” if it attempted to block or divert the flow.
“Water is the lifeblood of our nation,” he said. “If you threaten to stop our water, remember this you cannot snatch even a single drop from Pakistan.” His comments came amid growing tensions over India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) “in abeyance”, a move Islamabad has condemned as an act of war.
The prime minister linked the warning to a renewed sense of national resolve, citing the May 10 incident when the Pakistan Air Force shot down six Indian fighter jets an event he described as a historic setback for India.
In April, New Delhi announced it was suspending the IWT following an attack in Pahalgam, in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. Without presenting evidence, the Modi government accused Pakistan of involvement. Islamabad rejected the allegation and said any disruption to its allocated water share under the treaty would violate international law. It also signalled plans to challenge the decision in court, pointing to the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
In June, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague issued a supplemental award, ruling that India had no right to unilaterally suspend the treaty. India dismissed the court’s jurisdiction. On Monday, the PCA further clarified that the IWT requires India to allow the waters of the western rivers to flow for Pakistan’s “unrestricted use”.
Youth Empowerment Pledge
The prime minister also announced that the government would distribute 100,000 laptops to students on an interest-free, merit-based basis. He assured that the process would remain transparent, saying, “This government believes in merit, and we will protect it at every step.”
Stressing that Pakistan’s future lies in the hands of its youth, he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering the next generation through education and technology.
The event also saw messages of unity and inclusion from other cabinet members. Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said the government was taking “effective measures” to protect minority rights, highlighting a 5% job quota for minority communities. Minister of State for Religious Affairs Khel Das Kohistani noted that the Constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens.
Chairman of the PM Youth Program Rana Mashhood Khan recalled that Shehbaz Sharif, during his tenure as Punjab chief minister, had introduced Pakistan’s first youth policy in 2011, which provided laptops, scholarships, and soft loans. The Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, he said, has since been expanded into the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund to benefit students nationwide.
Solar Energy Push in Gilgit-Baltistan
Earlier in the day, the prime minister chaired a review meeting after ECNEC approved a 100-megawatt solar power project for Gilgit-Baltistan. He directed that the scheme aimed at addressing the region’s crippling 20-hour daily load-shedding be completed within a year, pledging to personally oversee its progress.
The federal government will fully fund the project, which will establish six solar parks in Gilgit, eight in Skardu, and six in Diamer. Solar panels will be installed on 234 buildings in Gilgit, 179 in Skardu, and 68 in Diamer. The system will include battery storage for backup power and real-time monitoring to meet international standards.
Calling the initiative “a lifeline for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan”, the premier said renewable energy integration was vital in combating climate change and ensuring uninterrupted supply during harsh weather.
The project will be overseen by a steering committee headed by Federal Energy Minister Sardar Owais Khan Leghari, alongside Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Ahad Khan Cheema, PM’s Coordinator Musharraf Zaidi, renewable energy expert Dr. Gerwin Dreesmann, and senior government officials.
