Sindh has strongly objected to the Indus River System Authority’s (IRSA) decision to impose a 27% water shortage on the province during the ongoing Kharif season, raising concerns over what it describes as an imbalance in inter-provincial water distribution.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said the decision appears to place a heavier burden on Sindh while other regions reportedly face minimal or no cuts.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, he questioned the continued diversion of water through major link canals, including the Chashma–Jhelum and Taunsa–Panjnad canals, at a time when agricultural demand is at its peak.
He said Sindh requires more than 80,000 cusecs of water at Guddu Barrage during the Kharif season under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, but current inflows stand at around 65,304 cusecs, creating a significant shortfall during a critical crop period.
Mr Khuhro also pointed to what he described as large-scale diversions, saying around 11,900 cusecs are being channelled through the Chashma–Jhelum Link Canal and another 9,000 cusecs through the Taunsa–Panjnad Link Canal.
He said these flows were reducing water availability for Sindh’s agricultural areas despite alternative storage options being available.
Sindh is a major contributor to Pakistan’s agricultural output, particularly in rice production and exports, and any sustained water shortage during the Kharif season could affect crop yields and rural livelihoods, he warned.
Mr Khuhro also called for clarity over the water distribution mechanism and urged the federal government to ensure strict implementation of the 1991 accord, saying allocations must be fair and transparent across all provinces.
The federal government and IRSA have not yet responded to the concerns raised.
