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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will celebrate the year 1447 AH as the 1500th birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the federal government announced on Monday, with a series of events including an International Seerat Conference focused on the responsible use of social media.

The Seerat-un-Nabi Conference is Pakistan’s largest annual religious gathering dedicated to discussions on the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Organized each year by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, it coincides with the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, which Muslims commemorate as the month of the Prophet’s birth.

In Pakistan, the month of Rabi Al-Awwal 2025 will begin on Aug. 26 and the 12th of Rabi Al-Awwal, which is the date of Eid Milad-un-Nabi (the Prophet’s birthday), will fall on Sept. 6. This year’s edition of the Seerat conference carries added significance as it will be the 50th conference and part of nationwide observances to mark the 1500th year since the Prophet’s birth.

Speaking at a press briefing, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yousuf said the commemoration would be observed nationwide from 1st to 12th Rabi Al-Awwal as ‘Ashra Rahmatul-lil-Alameen,’ with the International Seerat-un-Nabi (PBUH) Conference in Islamabad bringing together government officials, religious scholars, diplomats and international delegates.

“This year’s conference theme is ‘State Responsibilities in Teaching and Training the Beneficial Use of Social Media,’ in the light of the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),” he said.

“Selected scholarly articles on the subject have been compiled into a book to guide policymakers and the younger generation, with copies to be distributed to universities and public libraries.”

The minister said the celebrations were not only a spiritual milestone but also an opportunity to promote unity and harmony in society.

“This occasion is an expression of our resolve to shape the character of the new generation by following the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and to guide them toward using modern technology and social media for positive and constructive purposes,” he added.

Nationwide activities will include Seerat conferences, Na’at gatherings, competitions, seminars and awareness programs at schools and universities. A national Qur’an and Seerat Exhibition will also be held alongside the Islamabad conference, while a grand Na’at gathering is planned for the night of 11th Rabi Al-Awwal, according to Yousuf.

The religious affairs ministry has directed provincial governments, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to organize similar programs in their regions.

The minister appealed to citizens to fully participate in the Ashra Rahmatul-lil-Alameen activities, extend goodwill and charity to the poor, and especially support flood-affected communities.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday accused India of violating the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by sending a flood warning through diplomatic channels instead of the treaty’s official mechanism, saying the move was a “serious violation of international law.”

The statement came a day after the Indian High Commission in Islamabad warned of high flood levels in the River Tawi in Indian-administered Kashmir, despite New Delhi announcing in April that it had suspended the decades-old treaty. 

“On 24 August 2025, India communicated flood warnings through diplomatic channels, rather than through the Indus Waters Commission as required under the Indus Waters Treaty,” the Foreign Office said, adding that India’s declaration to hold the treaty in abeyance could have “significant negative consequences for peace and stability in South Asia.”

The River Tawi, which joins Pakistan’s Chenab River, runs through the border districts of Gujrat and Sialkot. 

Following the Indian alert, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab issued a flood warning, directing district administrations to activate monitoring and early warning systems.

A letter from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on Sunday, seen by Arab News, stated: “River and site Name: Tawi, Jammu. Date/Time: 24th August 2025, 10.00 Hrs, flood data: high flood.”

India suspended the IWT in April after blaming Pakistan for an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Pakistan denied involvement and demanded an international probe.

Under the treaty, signed in 1960, Pakistan has rights to the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — while India controls the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — but can use the western rivers for limited purposes provided it does not significantly alter their flow.

Pakistan had reacted strongly to India’s suspension of the IWT, warning that any attempt to stop or divert its guaranteed share of waters would be considered “an act of war.”

The latest exchange comes as Pakistan reels from deadly monsoon rains, with nearly 800 people killed since June 26 due to heavy showers and subsequent flash floods and landslides.