The Pakistani government has implemented a ban on paddy cultivation in Punjab to address water wastage and pest issues, as per the Punjab Agricultural Pest Ordinance of 1959 and 1960. Farmers are restricted from planting paddy before May 20, with potential legal consequences for non-compliance. This initiative is designed to conserve water and enhance crop quality, ultimately benefiting the agricultural sector and the economy. The decision coincides with increased tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack, which prompted India to annul the Indus Waters Treaty and shut down the Chenab river dam.