The Balochistan government has formally written to the Sindh government, urging immediate action to release the water allocated to Balochistan under the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Agreement. The letter emphasizes the critical water shortage affecting the Pit Feeder and Kherthar canals, which are vital for irrigation across various regions of the province.
Water Shortage Highlights
According to irrigation officials, Sindh has not been releasing Balochistan’s rightful share of water as stipulated by the IRSA framework, causing significant difficulties for farmers and local communities. Engineer Mudassar Zafar Khosa, Superintendent of Irrigation for the Nasirabad Circle, has called on the Sindh government to address the issue promptly and restore the water supply without further delay.
Declining Water Flow
The letter details that water discharge in the Pit Feeder Canal has plummeted from 6,500 cusecs to just 2,725 cusecs, representing a 58 percent drop in water availability. Mudassar Zafar Khosa accused Sindh of diverting water from Balochistan’s allocated share into its own canal system.
He warned that the ongoing shortage could severely damage rice crops and create serious problems for growers during the current cultivation season. The letter also proposes third-party monitoring of water distribution to ensure transparency and proper implementation of inter-provincial water-sharing arrangements.
