Sharif at SCO says water must never be weaponised in the region

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) said that water was the "lifeblood" of the region and it must never be weaponised.

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in the Kyrgyz capital, Mr. Sharif also said that the region cannot "realise its full potential without lasting peace," Dawn reported.

"Water is the lifeblood of our region. It sustains millions of lives, nourishes our land and secures the very future of our coming generations,” he said, highlighting the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).