The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has decided to provide Sindh with additional supply of around 4,000 to 5,000 cusecs of water, DawnNews reported on Thursday.

Irsa officials have closed down Panjand, Taremo and TP link canals to divert the additional flows to Sindh.

The spokesperson for Sindh chief minister confirmed to the media that Irsa officials have assured the provincial government that Sindh will start receiving additional water flows in next two days.

The authority took the decision after detailed consultations with the Punjab government. To provide the additional water to Sindh province, the authority has closed down three canals in Punjab.

The Sindh government had been hitting hard against the federal government over the shortage of water flows.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had demanded of the federal government that the management of water distribution from the Mangla and Tarbela dams be given to Sindh and Balochistan on a rotational basis since the Water and Power Development Authority was not reliable as far as fair distribution of irrigation water was concerned.

The chief minister had stated at a press conference that the shortage of water would hit the province badly since early sowing took place in Sindh because of the weather conditions. He was also critical of the ‘unfair attitude’ of the federal water and power ministry for creating hurdles in installing power plants and transmission and distribution system.

On the other hand, earlier this month, the Balochistan Assembly passed a resolution against alleged stealing of water by Sindh under the Irsa agreement.

The continued stealing of water by Sindh remains a major problem for farmers in Jaffarabad and Naseerabad districts, the resolution stated.

A Balochistan MPA Mohammad Khan Lehri, who tabled the resolution had alleged that as per the agreement, Sindh was responsible for providing 2,500 cusecs of water during the growing season. He, however, claimed that since 1991, Balochistan was being denied the share as per the Irsa pact.