Murad Ali Shah concerns about the role of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA)
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over what he called a serious water shortage in the province.
He raised concerns about the role of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and warned that the situation could harm agriculture and the wider economy if not addressed quickly.
In his letter, Murad said Sindh is receiving 57,867 cusecs of water against its allocated share of 98,700 cusecs. He said this has created a 41% shortage in the province. At the same time, he pointed out that Punjab is facing only a 10% shortage, even though overall water availability in the system has improved.
He further noted that river inflows are about 40% higher than last year during the same period. Water levels in major reservoirs have also increased by 16%. Despite this, Sindh water supply has continued to fall, which he described as a worrying trend.
The chief minister said canal water withdrawals for Sindh have dropped from 86,293 cusecs to 57,867 cusecs. He also claimed that discharge through CJ and TP link canals has increased by 16%, which he said raises further concerns about distribution balance.
Murad Ali Shah alleged that priority is being given to filling reservoirs instead of ensuring fair water distribution under the agreed system. He said this has created serious concern among farmers, especially in lower riparian areas who depend heavily on canal water for crops.
He urged the federal government to delay reservoir filling until the monsoon season so that provinces can receive their required water share. He also called for strict implementation of the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord to ensure fair distribution.
He warned that if the shortage continues, Sindh and Balochistan could face further damage. He added that agriculture, crop production, and the wider economy may suffer in the coming weeks if the issue is not resolved quickly.
