Labour Minister condemns Pakistan’s abuse of global forum to ‘peddle disinformation’

Countering Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s allegation that India was weaponising water, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in Doha on Wednesday (November 5, 2025) that Pakistan was abusing an international forum.

Mr. Mandaviya was addressing the plenary session of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar. Mr. Zardari made the remarks at the same venue on Tuesday (November 4).

“We take strong objection to certain unjustified references made by President of Pakistan yesterday (Tuesday) on India in his remarks. This is an abuse of an international forum to distract the world from focusing on social development by peddling disinformation against India. We wish to set the record straight. On the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan has undermined its spirit through sustained hostility and cross-border terrorism. It has also repeatedly misused the Treaty mechanisms to obstruct India’s legitimate projects,” Mr. Mandaviya said.

He added that on Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal affairs. “This is particularly so when it indulges in acts of cross-border terrorism against the citizens of India. Pakistan would do well to introspect and address its own serious challenges related to development, which have made it dependent on hand-outs by the international community. It should stop abusing international forums,” he said.

Poverty alleviation

Mr. Mandaviya said that through persistent reforms, convergence of welfare programmes, and digital innovation, approximately 250 million Indians have been lifted out of multidimensional poverty in the last 10 years. “Our progress is a result of a lifecycle-based framework where a child receives a healthy foundation, a young adult finds support for education and livelihood, a worker gets decent work, and an elderly person is guaranteed dignity and income security in old age,” he said.

The Minister said 118 million schoolchildren receive nutritious mid-day meals, and over 800 million citizens have been provided with food security. “Health security has been provided to 425 million Indians, and over 37 million houses have been provided to those with low income. Between 2017–18 and 2023–24, our unemployment rate has declined from 6% to 3.2% and women’s employment rate has nearly doubled. Millions of women have been mobilised into self-help groups. Credit disbursements have supplemented the strength of these women-led local institutions,” he said, adding that India’s social security coverage has increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025.