Pakistan Takes Extra Precautions as India Withholds Flood Data Under Indus Waters Treaty Suspension

• Officials forced to rely on unverified information following India’s suspension of river flow data sharing
• Plans underway to remove temporary structures from Ravi riverbed

The Punjab government has directed the irrigation department to adopt enhanced preparedness measures under the “high-alert category” to address potential flooding risks, amid ongoing uncertainties about river flows following India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

A source present at a meeting chaired by Lahore Commissioner Nauman Yousaf informed Dawn that the irrigation department is preparing contingency plans based on fragmented data available through social media and informal channels, which lack reliability for precise flood forecasting.

During discussions on flood management strategies, a senior irrigation official highlighted India’s continued refusal to share hydrological data since April last year when it placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. The commissioner emphasized proactive measures, directing officials: “If India withholds information, we must assume the worst. Scale preparedness accordingly—if conditions seem normal, prepare for medium floods; if moderate, act for high-flood scenarios.”

The directive included instructions for deputy commissioners to expedite flood preparedness initiatives. Lahore and Sheikhupura officials reported that critical flood-prone zones along the Ravi River have been mapped, with operations to clear temporary encroachments from the riverbed scheduled to commence shortly.

A senior irrigation official confirmed the commissioner’s orders, noting that India’s non-cooperation complicates planning but expressed confidence in readiness efforts ahead of the monsoon season. Current water levels in the Ravi and other rivers—including Sindh, Kabul, Jhelum, Chenab, and Sutlej—are reported as normal, dispelling social media claims of rising water levels. Officials urged the public to refrain from panic, citing routine hydrological conditions.

The Punjab government has mandated daily flood monitoring across districts, particularly those impacted by last year’s floods. District administrations are required to coordinate with the irrigation department to enforce bans on sand mining near critical infrastructure, such as bridges and bay areas, to prevent structural damage.

Commissioner Yousaf also ordered comprehensive clearance of bridge bays along the Ravi River, stressing that safeguarding lives, property, and infrastructure is a shared responsibility. Last August, the Ravi River’s 220,000 cusec floodwaters inundated Lahore’s Shafiqabad, Farrakhabad, and Tallat Park areas, affecting 82,952 people. The city’s worst recorded floods occurred in 1988 when 345,000 cusecs surged through Shahdara, causing widespread destruction.

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