IWT violation by India threatens centuries old living cultural heritage

MULTAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2026) Rivers have shaped the civilization, traditions, and cultural identity of South Punjab and other areas for centuries. Beyond irrigating fields, it has nurtured festivals, folk music, traditional occupations, rural customs, and community life. Today, however, the growing water scarcity due to Indus Waters Treaty violation by India is threatening not only agriculture but also the region's rich living cultural heritage.

Pakistani experts including Professor Nabeel Ikram, Sajjad Chatha, Ameer Hamza and some others attribute these concerns to multiple factors, including climate change, increasing water demand, and concerns over reduced river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty. They say prolonged water shortages could gradually erode traditions that have survived for generations.

Many cultural practices in South Punjab are closely linked with the agricultural Calendar and the availability of water. Seasonal village fairs, harvest celebrations, Jhumar and Ghora Dance performances, Seraiki folk songs celebrating rivers and fertile lands, and communal gatherings during sowing and harvesting seasons have long reflected the deep relationship between people and water.

Traditional occupations are equally dependent on healthy river systems. Fishing communities, boat makers, craftsmen using reeds and river grasses, and families living around riverine forests have relied on the Indus River for generations. As river flows decline, these livelihood and the cultural knowledge associated with them, are becoming increasingly vulnerable.

Water scarcity is also affecting riverine forests, which have historically supported wildlife, traditional honey collection, medicinal plants, and local craftsmanship.

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The gradual disappearance of these ecosystems threatens customs that form an important part of South Punjab's cultural landscape, they added.

Agricultural expert Khalid Mahmood Chaudhry said water is far more than an economic resource.

"South Punjab's cultural identity has evolved around its rivers and irrigation system. Our folk music, village festivals, traditional dances, handicrafts, and rural customs all reflect this relationship. If water scarcity continues, we risk losing not only agricultural productivity but also a priceless cultural heritage that cannot easily be restored," he said.

Agriculture specialist Malik Ahmad Nawaz maintained that safeguarding water resources is equally important for protecting local traditions.

"When water disappears, cultural practices begin to disappear as well. Traditional fishing communities, village fairs, harvest celebrations, folk performances, and indigenous knowledge associated with the Indus River all come under pressure. Preserving water resources means preserving South Punjab's living heritage for future generations," he said.

All these experts believe that protecting Pakistan's water resources was not only an environmental and agricultural priority but also a cultural responsibility. They argue that conserving rivers and ensuring sustainable water management would help preserve the traditions, folklore, rural lifestyles, and community values that have defined South Punjab for centuries.