PESHAWAR
\nAt sunrise in a quiet village of Dera Ismail Khan, 49-year-old farmer Adnan Khan kicks his motorbike to life and heads toward his wheat fields amid worries of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) violations by India.
\nThe earth is still damp from recent rainfall, which is usually a welcome sign before harvest but today, his routine inspection carries a different weight.
\nSlinging a sickle over his shoulder at Paharpur, he scans the soil not just for moisture, but for reassurance.
\nLike hundreds of thousands of farmers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Adnan\u2019s livelihood largely depends on the steady flow of water from the Indus River system.
\nAnd lately, that flow feels uncertain due to repeated IWT violations by India.
\n\u201cWe live by this water,\u201d he says quietly. \u201cIf it stops, everything stops.\u201d
\nFor generations, farmers in Dera Ismail Khan have relied on the Indus River locally called Sindh to irrigate their wheat, maize, rice and other crops as well orchards and vegetables.
\nUnder the historic Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan was granted rights over the western rivers namely Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
\nThe agreement, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, has long been considered a rare example of cooperation between Pakistan and India after the landmark treaty was signed by President Ayub Khan and Indian PM Jawahar Lal Nehru.
\nBut for Adnan and many like him, that trust is eroding after IWT was unilaterally held in abyance by fascist Modi Govt in April last year, showing disregards for international treaties and guarantees of the World Bank.
\n\u201cIf water in the river drops, our wheat drops,\u201d he explains. \u201cAnd when wheat drops, hunger rises leading to stunted children and lactating mothers.\u201d
\nThe concern of farmers is very genuine and requires immediate action especially by World Bank. According to agricultural experts, KP produces only about 1.2 to 1.5 million tons of wheat annually\u2014far short of its consumption needs of nearly 5 million tons. That gap forces reliance on other provinces, especially Punjab, often called the country\u2019s breadbasket.
\nProfessor Dr. Naeemur Rehman Khattak of the University of Peshawar warns that water shortages could deepen this imbalance if IWT violations continued.
\n\u201cA 70% production gap already exists,\u201d he reiterates. \u201cAny disruption in river flows could make it worse leading to reign of hunger and starvation in Pakistan.\u201d
\nClimate change, limited access to quality seeds, and small landholdings already strain farmers of Pakistan, he said, adding water uncertainty under IWT adds another layer of vulnerability.
\nThe issue extends far beyond wheat and other seasonal crops. Reduced water flow also threatens livestock, orchards, fisheries, and even honey production.
\nDr. Ejaz Khan, an international relations expert, describes the situation starkly and said \u201cWater is not just a resource rather it\u2019s survival. Any disruption affects billions of living creatures.\u201d
\nHe points out that major infrastructure like Tarbela and Mangla dams depend on consistent river flows for irrigation and electricity. A decline could trigger energy shortages alongside food insecurity in Pakistan.
\nLegal experts argue that the treaty does not allow unilateral suspension and its smooth operation was binding on both states. The Permanent Court of Arbitration has reaffirmed its binding nature, emphasizing that any changes require mutual agreement.
\nHe urged World Bank to step in and force Modi regime o reverse it\u2019s illegal decision.
\nYet for farmers like Adnan, legal debates feel distant. What matters is whether water reaches his land for his family survival.
\nStanding at the edge of his field, he scoops a handful of soil and lets it fall through his fingers.
\n\u201cThis land feeds us,\u201d he says. \u201cBut it needs water to live.\u201d
\nThe Indus Basin supports nearly 300 million people across the region. Any disruption risks not just crops, but livelihoods, stability, and peace.
\nAs wheat harvest season approaches in DI Khan, Adnan continues his daily rounds\u2014watching the skies, checking the soil, and hoping the rivers keep flowing for upcoming rice crop.
\nBecause for him, and millions like him, water is not politics rather it\u2019s life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR At sunrise in a quiet village of Dera Ismail Khan, 49-year-old farmer Adnan Khan kicks his motorbike to life and heads toward his wheat fields amid worries of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) violations by India. The earth is still damp from recent rainfall, which is usually a welcome sign before harvest but today, his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":542741,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-542726","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n