In the Sutlej River, the water level rose as India drained more water from dams and heavy rains.
More than 100,000 people have been evacuated from Kasur, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran, Multan, and Bahawalpur regions in the north since 9 July, Punjab Rescue Spokesperson Deeba Shahnaz said.
Shahnaz stated that 17 people were killed and 36 injured due to the floods that occurred since 9 July.
Punjab State Prime Minister Seyed Muhsin Raza Nakvi described the recent floods as “the worst in 35 years”.
Indus Waters Treaty
According to the Indus Waters Agreement signed between Pakistan and India in 1960 under the guarantee of the World Bank, the control of the 6 rivers Beas, Ravi and Sutlej, which feeds the Indus River, is given to India; Control of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab was also given to Pakistan.
Since the rivers given to India fed the Indus more, Pakistan was granted rights on these rivers. Included in the agreement was the clause that India had rights to power generation, agriculture and fisheries.
There are risks of water shortage or flooding in Pakistan due to dams built by India.
It is stated that 20 percent of Pakistan’s economy depends on activities around the Indus River.